Patent Application
20240052542
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for treating laundry and control method thereof.
Generally, the term “laundry treating apparatus” refers to a device capable of washing, drying, or washing/drying laundry. Here, the laundry treating apparatus may perform only a washing or drying function, or may perform both washing and drying.
Such a laundry treating apparatus includes an arbitrary course or option for washing or drying laundry, and an execution time of the course or option is calculated based on the amount of laundry. For example, when the laundry amount is large, the execution time may be set to be relatively long. When the laundry amount is small, the execution time may be set to be relatively small.
Referring to
When the laundry treating apparatus of the related art is provided as a front load type washer having an opening provided to a front side of a cabinet to put laundry therethrough, if the starting step S3 is performed, a door locking step S4 of fixing the opening to the cabinet may be performed.
Thereafter, the laundry treating apparatus of the related art performs a laundry amount detecting step S5 of detecting a laundry amount through a current value applied while a laundry received drum and the like is rotated. Once the laundry amount is calculated, a controller of the laundry treating apparatus of the related art performs a time displaying step S6 of displaying an estimated execution time of the selected course or option to a user and an executing step S7 of executing the course or option automatically.
However, the laundry amount detecting step S5 and the time displaying step S6 of the laundry treating apparatus of the related art are performed after the starting step S3 of executing the course or option by the user. Therefore, there is a problem that the user is forced to input an execution of the course or option while failing to receive information on the laundry amount or the estimated execution time.
As a result, there are a problem in that the user is unable to control the execution time of the course or option actively and a problem in that the time display step S6 is unable to play a role above simply displaying only simple information at a service level to the user.
Furthermore, although the execution time displayed in the time displaying step S6 fails to fit user's current intention or situation, there is a problem in that the laundry treating apparatus of the related art has no room for the user to take active measures such as adding or reducing laundry.
In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the related art has a problem in that the course or option cannot be canceled or changed unless active measures such as arbitrarily turning off the power of the washer are taken to change the selected course or option even if the execution time of the selected course or option does not fit the intention.
This inconvenience has a problem in being further maximized when remotely controlling the laundry treating apparatus of the related art.
Referring to
Specifically, the laundry treating apparatus of the related art calculates the weight of the laundry L by measuring a current value applied to or outputted from the drive portion that rotates the drum D while rotating the drum in the direction I.
When the laundry treating apparatus of the related art rotates the drum D to detect the laundry amount, the laundry L paced on a floor surface of the drum is lifted and then falls in direction II by gravity within the drum D so as to be separated from an inner wall of the drum.
Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus of the related art has a limitation in that a current value, which is applied or outputted while continuously rotating the drum D one or more times in the I direction I, should be aligned in order to detect an accurate weight of the laundry L.
As a result, the laundry treating apparatus of the related art has a problem that the time for sensing the laundry amount inevitably requires more time than the time for continuously rotating the drum.
In addition, since the time required for the laundry amount detecting step S5 is set to be relatively long, the laundry treating apparatus of the related art has a problem that the time displaying step S6 for displaying the execution time of the course or option may not be quickly guided to the user.
Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus of the related art has a problem that a user is fundamentally blocked from the possibility that a user will utilize information on a laundry amount of laundry or an estimated execution time.
One technical task of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of immediately informing a user of an estimated execution time of a course or option before performing the course or option.
Another technical task of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus for enabling a user to control an execution time of a course or option that provides a method of performing a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dewatering cycle within a predetermined range.
Another technical task of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus for enabling a user to adjust an execution time within an upper or lower limit of an arbitrary course or option.
Another technical task of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of changing an execution time of one or more of a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dewatering cycle when a user changes an execution time of an arbitrary course or option.
Further technical task of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of maintaining a washing effect even if a user changes an execution time of an arbitrary course or option.
Another further technical task of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of maintaining a dewatering effect even if a user changes an execution time of an arbitrary course or option.
In one technical aspect of the present disclosure, provided is a laundry treating apparatus for detecting a laundry amount while a drum is rotating less than one rotation.
A laundry amount detecting step of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may rotate the drum less than one rotation.
In a rotating step of rotating the drum in the rotating step, the drum may be rotated at an angle or less at which the laundry is separated from an inner wall of the drum or disposition thereof is variable.
The rotating step may rotate the drum in a range between 0 and 90 degrees. Since variables can be eliminated when the angle gets smaller, the rotating step may rotate the drum in a range between 10 and 45 degrees.
A calculating step of detecting a laundry amount while performing the rotating step or after completing the rotating step may be performed before a position of the drum is restored.
The rotating step and the calculating step may be performed all within 0.3 to 1 second.
The laundry amount detecting step may further include a displaying step of displaying a weight of the laundry on a display portion. The laundry amount detecting step may display an execution time of an arbitrary washing course or option on the display portion.
The rotating step, the calculating step, and the displaying step may be performed all before a position of the drum is restored.
The rotating step, the calculating step, and the displaying step may be performed all within 0.3 to 1 second.
A storage unit storing the laundry weight corresponding to the first current value as data may be further included, and the calculating step may extract the weight of the laundry from the storage unit.
A restoring step of restoring a position of the drum by cutting of a power applied to the drive portion based on performing the rotating step may be further included, and the calculating step may calculate the weight of the laundry by measuring a second current value outputted from the restoring step.
A reverse-rotating step of restoring a position of the drum by rotating the drum in reverse may be further included, and the calculating step may calculate the weight of the laundry by measuring a third current value outputted from the reverse-rotating step.
The laundry amount detecting step may be performed before supplying water to the tub or after draining the water from the tub.
The present disclosure has an effect of immediately informing a user of an estimated execution time of a course or option before performing the course or option.
The present disclosure has an effect of enabling a user to control an execution time of a course or option that provides a method of performing a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dewatering cycle within a predetermined range.
The present disclosure has an effect of enabling a user to adjust an execution time within an upper or lower limit of an arbitrary course or option.
The present disclosure has an effect of changing an execution time of one or more of a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dewatering cycle when a user changes an execution time of an arbitrary course or option.
The present disclosure has an effect of maintaining a washing effect even if a user changes an execution time of an arbitrary course or option.
The present disclosure has an effect of maintaining a dewatering effect even if a user changes an execution time of an arbitrary course or option.
The present disclosure has an effect of detecting a laundry amount before executing a course or option.
The present disclosure has an effect of detecting a laundry amount before performing locking of a door.
The present disclosure has an effect that a detergent corresponding to a laundry amount is led to be put before performing locking of a door.
The present disclosure has an effect that a detergent corresponding to a laundry
amount is led to be put before executing a course or option.
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the same or similar reference numbers shall be assigned to the same or similar configurations even in different embodiments, and the description thereof shall be replaced with the first description. The singular representations used in this specification include plural representations unless explicitly meant otherwise in the context. In explaining embodiments of the present disclosure, if it is deemed that a specific description of the prior art related to the present disclosure may unnecessarily blur the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description shall be omitted. It should also be noted that the accompanying drawings are intended to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification and should not be construed as limiting the technical ideas disclosed in this specification by the accompanying drawings.
In the orthogonal coordinate system shown in the drawing, positive and negative directions of the x-axis are defined as front and rear directions of a laundry treating apparatus, respectively, and positive and negative directions of the z-axis are defined as top and bottom directions of the laundry treating apparatus. In addition, a positive direction of the y-axis is defined as a right direction of the laundry treating apparatus, and a negative direction of the y-axis is defined as a left direction of the laundry treating apparatus.
Referring to
The cabinet 10 forms the exterior of the laundry treating apparatus 1 and may include an opening 12 through which laundry may be put or withdrawn and a door 13 opening/closing the opening 12. The door 13 is rotatably coupled to a front side of the cabinet 10, and the opening 12 may be opened/closed depending on turning the door 13.
Meanwhile,
When the door 13 is coupled to the opening 12, it is locked so as not to open the opening 12 arbitrarily.
The door 13 or the cabinet 10 may include a lock part configured to fix the door 13 to the cabinet 10.
The lock part includes a solenoid, a direct fastening means or the like and may be configured to enable the door 13 to lock the opening 12. A detergent box 14 detachably received in the cabinet to receive a detergent or fabric softener therein and a control panel 16 configured to input an activation command to the laundry treating apparatus or display a status of the laundry treating apparatus may be provided to the front side of the cabinet 10.
The detergent box 14 and the control panel 16 may be disposed above the opening 12 to be easily gripped or touched by a user.
The detergent box 14 is configured to be withdrawable in a front direction and may store a powder or liquid detergent therein. For example, the detergent box 14 may be a drawer type.
The control panel 16 may be provided to one side of the detergent box 14, and may include an input unit 18 to receive an input of an activation command including a washing course and option information related to washing from a user and a display portion 17 to display the inputted information and a washing progress status.
The input unit 18 may be a button type or a rotary knob type and may be provided as a touch panel. The display portion 17 may include a display portion having liquid crystals and a speaker outputting sound. Yet, the display portion 17 may be configured in any shape capable of displaying the status of the laundry treating apparatus 1, and may be integrally provided with the input unit 18.
In some implementations, the control panel 16 may be provided with a controller P to control the laundry treating apparatus 1.
The controller may control the electronic parts of the laundry treating apparatus 1 described later by being supplied with power from an external power source.
In this case, since the electronic parts (hereinafter, a load unit) are connected in parallel to the controller, each load unit (e.g., a drive portion, a water supply valve, a communication module, etc.) may operate independently.
The laundry receiving part 20′ provided in a manner of being received in the cabinet 10 may include a tub 20 storing water therein and a drum 30 rotatably received in the tub 20 to receive laundry therein.
Referring to
The tub 20 may include a tub entrance 21 through which laundry is put or withdrawn and a tub support part 23 fixing the tub 20 to an inside of the cabinet 10. The tub entrance 21 may communicate with the entrance 12. The tub support part 23 is provided under the tub 20 and may attenuate the vibration generated from the tub 20. For example, the tub support part may include a damper, a spring, etc.
The tub 20 may further include a water level sensor 90 measuring a water level in the tub. The water level sensor 90 may include an extension pipe extended from a bottom end of the tube to an upper side, a diaphragm provided to seal a top end of the extension pipe, and a sensor detecting a frequency of the diaphragm.
The laundry treating apparatus 1 of the present disclosure may further include a vibration sensor 92 detecting vibrations within the tub 20. The vibrations sensor 92 is configured to detect at least one of the vibrations on x-, y- and z-axes and may deliver a state of an inside of the tub to the controller.
The drum 30 is rotatably provided within the tub 20, and may include a drum entrance 31 through which laundry may be put or withdrawn. For example, the drum may have a cylindrical shape. The drum entrance 31 may communicate with the entrance 12 and the tub entrance 21. Therefore, laundry may be put into the drum 30 through the entrance 12, the tub entrance 21 and the drum entrance 31 in order.
Meanwhile, between the entrance 12 of the cabinet 10 and the tub entrance 21 of the tub 20, a gasket 19 may be further provided. The gasket 19 prevents the wash water in the tub 20 from leaking to the cabinet 10 and may also prevent the vibration generated from the tub 20 from being delivered to the cabinet 10. For example, the gasket may include an elastic member.
A plurality of perforated holes 33 communicating with the tub 20 may be formed in an inner circumferential surface of the drum 30. The wash water received in the tub 20 may be supplied into the drum 30 through the perforated holes 33, and the wash water in the drum 30 may be discharged to the tub 20 through the perforated holes 33.
In some implementations, the laundry treating apparatus 1 of the present disclosure may include a drive portion coupled to the tub 20 to rotate the drum 30, a water supply unit 70 supplying wash water into the tub 20, and a drain unit 80 discharging the wash water of the tub 20 externally.
The drain unit 80 may include a drain pipe 81 communicating with the tub 20, and may further include a drain pump 82 connected to the drain pipe to provide a power for draining water to the tub 20.
The water supply unit 70 may include a water supply pipe 71 supplying water to the tub 20 and a water supply valve opening/closing the water supply pipe 71, and the water supply pipe 71 may be configured to communicate with the detergent box 14.
Therefore, the detergent box 14 is configured to communicate, thereby supplying a detergent to the tub 20 automatically for water supply.
In some implementations, the laundry treating apparatus 1 of the present disclosure may further include a circulation unit 80a circulating again the water drained from the tub 20. The circulation unit 80a may include a circulation flow path 81a having both ends connected to the tub 20 and a circulation pump 82b providing a power to the circulation flow path.
The circulation pump 82b communicates with a bottom surface of the tub 20 to pressurize the wash water, and the circulation flow path 81a may be configured to spray the wash water into the drum in a manner that one side of the circulation flow path 81a is connected to the circulation pump while the other side is connected to the gasket 19.
Yet, since the circulation flow path and the circulation pump described above are the components necessary for a case of spraying the wash water stored in the tub, it may not exclude a case of spraying the wash water into the drum through a spray water supply flow path connected to a water supply source outside the cabinet.
Namely, when one side of the spray water supply flow path is connected to the water supply source and the other side is connected to the tub, if a nozzle capable of spraying wash water into the drum is provided, the wash water may be sprayed into the drum during a filtration motion and a squeeze motion.
In addition, the laundry treating apparatus 1 of the present disclosure may further include balancers 51 and 53 to attenuate the vibration generated from the drum 30. The balancers 51 and 53 may remove the eccentricity of the drum 30, which is generated as laundry is unequally distributed within the drum 30. Namely, the balancers 51 and 53 are moved to specific positions under the control of the microcomputer, thereby attenuating the unbalance of the drum 30.
In this case, the balancer may be provided to each of front and rear sides of the drum 30 or may be provided to either the front side or the rear side of the drum 30. For example, the balancer may include a front balancer 51 and a rear balancer 53 provided to the front side and the rear side of the drum 30, respectively. The balancers may include ball balancers, liquid balancers, etc.
The drive portion 9 is provided to an outside of the tub 20, and may be connected to the drum 30 in a manner of being coupled to or penetrating a backside of the drub 20. The drive portion 9 is fixed to the backside of the tub 20, and may convert electric energy into mechanical energy. Namely, the drive portion 9 may rotate the drum 30 by being supplied with a current externally.
The drive portion 9 may include a stator 91 generating a magnetic field, a rotor 93 rotated by the magnetic field within the stator 91, and a rotation shaft connecting the drum 30 and the rotor 93 together by penetrating the backside of the tub 20.
The drive portion may include a Bush-Less Direct Current (BLDC) motor. IN this case, the stator 41 may include a coil and the rotor 93 may include a permanent magnet. Meanwhile, a rotation shaft bearing 25 rotatably supporting the rotation shaft 95 may be further provided to the backside of the tub 20.
The controller P is provided to a control panel and the like and may be configured to perform a washing course and an option by receiving an input of a command for activating the laundry treating apparatus through the input unit 16. Namely, the controller P may be configured to control the water supply valve 72, the drain pump 82 and the drive portion 9 using water level information detected by the water level sensor 90 while performing the determined washing course and option.
In addition, the controller P may provide a current status of the laundry treating apparatus through the display portion 17, and may be provided to detect the vibration of the drum through a vibration sensor 92 or a current value applied to the drive portion 9.
In some implementations, the controller P may further include a parallel operation device P1 capable of receiving and processing a signal value of the vibration sensor 92, a current value applied to the drive portion 40, an RPM of the drum 30, etc.
In addition, the controller P may further include a storage unit P2 capable of storing a data value processed by the parallel operation device, an algorithm for operating the parallel operation device P1, and various electric signals inputted to the parallel operation device P1.
The controller P of the present disclosure may implement an artificial neural network learning logic for generating an artificial neural network with the parallel operation device P1 and the storage unit P2. The artificial neural network may be used to derive one coherent result value by combining and analyzing a plurality of factors.
A controller of the related art has a problem that a single output value may be derived using a single input value only. Yet, since the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may utilize two or more signals through the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, it may obtain necessary information more accurately than using a single information.
In some implementations, a plurality of courses or options for operating the laundry treating apparatus may be pre-stored in the storage unit P2. A plurality of the courses or options may include a combination of a method or sequence for operating the water supply valve 72, the drive portion 9 and the drain pump 82 and an operating strength thereof to perform a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dewatering cycle.
In the storage unit P2, data of matching a current value applied to or outputted from the drive portion 9 to a laundry amount, a laundry texture or the like may be stored as a table and the like.
In the storage unit P2, an estimated time of a plurality of the courses or options corresponding to the amount of laundry may be stored as data.
In addition, an appropriate detergent amount necessary to perform each course or option corresponding to an amount of laundry may be pre-stored as data. The detergent amount may conceptually include one or more of a wash detergent, a softener, and a bleach.
The controller P may control each of the components of the laundry treating apparatus using various algorithms and data stored in the storage unit P2.
If the amount of the laundry is detected, the controller P may calculate one or more of an execution time and a necessary detergent amount for an arbitrary course or option for performing a washing of the laundry.
The display portion 17 may be provided as a display panel only, but the input unit 18 may be provided as a physical button that is inputtable separately.
The control panel 16 may include a power unit 120 receiving an input of a command for supplying a power to the laundry treating apparatus 1.
If the power unit 120 is inputted, a power may be supplied to the control panel 16, and the controller P including the drive portion 9 may be supplied with the power all.
The input unit 18 may further include a selection unit for selecting or changing the washing course or option. The selection unit 140 and 160 may include a course selection unit 140 configured to receive an input of selecting one of arbitrary courses of performing a series of washing processes including washing, rinsing and dewatering cycles of the laundry treating apparatus 1 and an option selection unit 160 configured to receive an input of selecting one of arbitrary options for adjusting strength and level of the course.
For example, when the laundry treating apparatus 1 is provided as a washer, the course may be classified into a first course including washing methods of removing foreign substances of general laundry or a set thereof, a second course including washing methods of sterilizing the laundry or a set thereof, and a third course including methods of removing foreign substances in consideration of texture of the laundry and a set thereof.
In addition, the option may be classified into a first option of adjusting a washing strength in the selected course, a second option of adjusting the number of rinsing, a third option of adjusting a dewatering strength, and a fourth option of determining a water temperature of a tub receiving laundry and water therein. Adjusting the washing strength and the dewatering strength may mean adjusting an rpm of the drum, a rotation direction change cycle of the drum and the like in the washing cycle and the dewatering cycle.
As the first course is the classification of a general course of washing laundry, it may be referred to as a daily course. As the second course is the classification of a course for sterilization, it may be referred to as a sanitary course. As the third course is the classification of a course in consideration of laundry texture, laundry amount and the like, it may be referred to as a customized course.
The course selection unit 140 may be configured to select a course set or selected sequentially if inputted repeatedly.
The course selection unit 140 may include a first course selection unit 141 configured to select one from the first course, a second course selection unit 142 configured to select one from the second course, and a third course selection unit 143 configured to select on from the third course.
The option selection unit 160 may be configured to select a course set or displayed sequentially by being repeatedly inputted like the course selection unit 140. In addition, the option selection unit 160 may include a first option selection unit 161 adjusting a washing strength in the selected course, a second option selection unit 162 adjusting the number of rinsing, a third option selection unit 163 adjusting a dewatering strength, and a fourth option selection unit 164 adjusting a water temperature of the tub receiving laundry and water therein. The option selection unit 160 may be configured to select a desired option by inputting each option selection unit sequentially.
The display portion 130 may include a liquid crystal display, and may include a light-reflecting lamp, a sound-emitting speaker, etc. The display portion 130 may include a first display portion 131 displaying a course selected from the course selection portion 140 and a second display portion 132 displaying an option selected from the option selection unit 160.
The first display portion 131 may be configured to display the selected course. For example, a portion corresponding to the selected course may be turned on or a name of the course may be represented on the display portion.
The second display portion 132 may be configured to display the selected option. For example, a portion corresponding to the selected option may be turned on or a name of the option may be represented on the display portion.
Specifically, the first display portion 131 may be configured in a manner of if the course selection unit 140 is inputted, turning on a corresponding course, or in a manner of if the course selection unit 140 is inputted, displaying a corresponding course on an LCD or emitting sound. The first display portion 131 may include a display panel or a lamp that emits light next to a text that describes the course contents.
If a user clicks the daily course 141, the general course is sequentially turned on in order so as to have a corresponding course recognized by the user.
If a user clicks the sanitary course, a course sequentially corresponding to the sanitary course is turned on in order. If a user clicks the customized course, a course sequentially corresponding to the customized course may be turned on in order.
The second display portion 132 may be configured in a manner of if the option selection unit 160 is inputted, turning on a corresponding option, or in a manner of if the option selection unit 160 is inputted, displaying a corresponding option on an LCD or emitting sound. The second display portion 132 may include a display panel or a lamp that emits light next to a text that describes the option contents.
As the option selection unit 160 is repeatedly clicked or touched, the first to fourth options may be turned on sequentially. Thus, a user may select a desired option.
In some implementations, the option selection unit 160 may further include a switch or a touch zone capable of performing an additional function on the laundry treating apparatus las well as the Wash, Rinse, Dewater, and Water temperature.
The option selection unit 160 may further include a steam adjustment unit 160a adding an option of supplying steam into the laundry treating apparatus 1, a reservation unit 160b of pre-determining an operation time of the laundry treating apparatus 1, an additional setting unit 160d clicked to add laundry during an operation of the laundry treating apparatus 1, a turbo unit 160e forming a strong water current by instantly raising a drum rpm of the laundry treating apparatus 1, a turbo dry unit 160f adding an option of supplying strong hot air, a wind dry unit 160g adding an option of supplying warm or cool air other than hot air, and a time dry unit 160h adding an option of performing natural drying by rotating only a drum at a predetermined speed.
In some implementations, the second display portion 132 may include a display portion capable of displaying status information of the laundry treating apparatus 1 except a process for inputting a course or option in case that a drying or washing cycle is in progress, that a reservation setting is performed, or that a drying or washing cycle ends, despite displaying details of an option of a course at the moment of determining the course or option.
The display portion 17 may further include a third display portion 133 displaying an execution time estimated when a plurality of the courses or options are performed.
If a prescribed course or option is selected from a plurality of the courses or options, the third display portion 133 may display an execution time of the course or option according to an amount of the laundry to a user.
In addition, the above-described structure is only an embodiment, and the control panel 16 may be provided in any form as long as it may include the input unit 18 receiving an input of a command to drive the laundry treating apparatus and the display portion 17 displaying the status of the laundry treating apparatus.
A user may set a desired course or option by inputting the course selection unit 140 or the option selection unit 160. In addition, even if the user does not input the course selection unit 140 or the option selection unit 160, a standard course or a standard option may be preset.
For example, reference values of the standard washing course and Wash/Rinse/Dewater/Water temperature may be determined as standards.
A user may select a desired course or option by inputting the course selection unit 140 and the option selection unit 160, and may desire to perform a standard course or option set as a reference as it is. For the course of option, the user may select a prescribed course of option by inputting the course selection unit 140 and the option selection unit 160, or may select the standard course or option by not inputting the course selection unit 140 and the option selection unit 160.
The control panel 16 may include an execution unit 170 receiving an input of a command to execute the selected course or option or the preset standard course or option.
If the execution unit 170 is inputted, the controller P may lock the door 13 not to be separated from the cabinet 10. A detection unit detecting whether the door 13 is located to the cabinet 10 may be installed in at least one of the door 13 and the cabinet 10, and the detection unit may be controlled by the controller P.
An execution time of a standard course or option or a course or option selected by a user may be displayed on the third display portion 133.
In some implementations, the display portion 16 may be configured to indicate detergent amounts necessary to perform a plurality of the courses or options. The execution time of the course or option may vary depending on an amount of laundry. In addition, the detergent amount to perform a plurality of the courses or options may vary depending on the amount of the laundry.
Therefore, if detecting the amount of the laundry, the controller P may display at least one of the execution time of the course or option and the detergent amount necessary for the course or option on the display portion 17.
For example, an estimated execution time of the course or option may be displayed on the third display portion 133 and a necessary detergent amount may be displayed on the second display portion 132.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may first detect an amount of the laundry before inputting the execution unit 170 and then display the estimated time of the selected course or option and the necessary detergent amount on the display portion 16.
To this end, the controller P of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may be configured to detect the amount of the laundry before the execution unit 170 is inputted.
The controller P may calculate the amount of the laundry through a current value applied to or outputted from the drive portion 9 over controlling the drive portion 9, and may display an estimated execution time of the selected course or option to a user even before inputting the execution unit 170.
Thus, the user may be immediately informed on the estimated execution time of the course or option before the selected course or option is executed. If the estimated execution time fails to fir a situation or a user's schedule, the user may be guided to select other courses or options.
Thus, the user may immediately change the course or option initially selected by the user into a course or option appropriate for a situation of the user.
In addition, a user may change a course or option while checking estimated execution times of several courses or options in advance before executing a selected course or option.
In addition, a user may check a necessary detergent amount appropriate for laundry in a current status of a course or option selected from a plurality of courses or options and then put an appropriate amount of detergent.
In some implementations, the control panel 16 of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a time adjustment unit 200 capable of changing an execution time of the executed course or option.
The time adjustment unit 200 may be configured in a manner of selecting the course or option and then inputting some buttons of the option selection unit 160, or may be provided as a separate button in the control panel 16.
For example, when the time adjustment unit 200 is provided as a separate button, a user may input the time adjustment unit 200 and then extend or reduce an estimated execution time of the selected course or option.
The extension or reduction of the estimated execution time may be performed by inputting some buttons of the option selection unit 160.
For example, an execution time may be adjusted by inputting the option button of Dewater 163 and the option button of Water temperature 164.
If the power unit 120 of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure is inputted, the water supply unit 70, the drive portion 9, the drain unit 80 and the like may be provided with power and the controller P may be provided with power as well.
As the power unit 120 is inputted, if the controller P is supplied with power, the controller P may be configured to detect at least one of the laundry amount and the laundry texture.
In the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, a prerequisite condition for detecting at least one of the laundry amount and the laundry texture may include an input of the power unit 120.
Therefore, before a user inputs the power unit 120, even if the user opens the door 13, puts laundry into the drum 30, and then closes the door 13, the controller P may immediately detect the amount of the laundry.
The controller P may calculate an estimated time for executing a specific course or option according to the laundry amount.
To this end, the controller P may recognize in a manner of matching the estimated time corresponding to the laundry amount in the storage unit P2.
In addition, a detergent amount necessary for the laundry amount to execute an arbitrary course or option may be organized as data. The controller P may calculate a detergent amount necessary to perform washing on the laundry according to the course or option in the storage unit P2.
For example, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a power supplying step A1 of supplying a power by inputting the power unit 120 of the laundry treating apparatus and a laundry amount detecting step A2 of detecting an amount of laundry received in the drum 30 based on performing the power supplying step A1.
The laundry amount detecting step A2 may detect a texture of the laundry. Thus, as the laundry amount detecting step may detect one or more of a laundry weight and a laundry texture, it may be regarded as a laundry state detecting step.
The texture of the laundry may be calculated if one or more of a moisture content, a laundry volume and a laundry amount are inputted to the controller.
Hereinafter, detection of an amount of laundry will be mainly described, but detection of a texture of the laundry is not excluded.
If the amount of the laundry is detected in the laundry amount detecting step A2, an information displaying step A3 of displaying at least one of the amount of the laundry, an estimated execution time of a course or option of performing washing of the laundry, and a detergent amount necessary for the course or option on the display portion 16 may be performed.
In the information displaying step A3, an execution time corresponding to a preset standard course or option matched to the amount of the laundry may be displayed.
A user may check the laundry amount and the execution time of the preset course or option, which are displayed in the information displaying step A3, and then compare them with a schedule of the user, and may check a detergent amount.
If the user is satisfied with the information displayed in the information displaying step A3, the user may input the execution unit 170. The controller P may perform an execution inputting step A6 of detecting that the execution unit 170 is inputted.
Once the execution inputting step A6 is performed, the controller P locks the door 13 to the cabinet 10 by controlling the lock unit, thereby preventing the door 13 from being open arbitrarily.
In addition, if the execution inputting step A6 is performed, the controller P may perform one or more of a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle and a dewatering cycle according to the settings of the course or option. After the execution inputting step A6, a procedure for detecting an amount of laundry may be skipped. Therefore, a total washing time may be prevented from being delayed.
In some implementations, after the user has confirmed at least one of the amount of the laundry, the execution time of the preset course or option, and the detergent amount in the information displaying step A3, a course setting step A4 of receiving an input of the course selection unit 140 or the option selection unit 160 may be further performed.
For example, the user may check the amount of the laundry through the course setting step S4 and then input the course selection unit 140 or the option selection unit 160. After confirming the execution time, the user may change the course or option by inputting the course selection unit 140 or the option selection unit 160.
If the course setting step A4 is performed, the controller P may perform a change displaying step A5 of recalculating an estimated execution time or a detergent amount of a changed course or option corresponding to the amount of the laundry and then forwarding it to the display portion 16.
In the change displaying step A5, one or more of the estimated execution time of the changed course or option and the changed detergent amount may be displayed on the display portion 16.
If determining that the estimated execution time or the detergent amount is appropriate, the user may input the execution unit 170. If the estimated execution time or the detergent amount is not appropriate, the user may re-input the course selection unit 140 or the option selection unit 160.
If detecting the input of the execution unit 170, the controller P may perform an execution inputting step A6. If detecting the input of the course selection unit 140 or the option selection unit 160, the controller P may re-perform the course setting step A4 and the change displaying step A5.
The controller P may be configured to detect an amount of laundry if detecting opening/closing of the door 13 before the execution unit 170 is inputted. Namely, a condition for detecting the amount of the laundry may include the opening/closing of the door 13.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform an opening/closing step B1 of detecting opening/closing of the door 13. If the opening/closing of the door 13 is detected in the opening/closing step B1, the controller P may perform a laundry amount detecting step B2 of detecting an amount of laundry and an information displaying step B3 of displaying one or more of the amount of the laundry, an execution time of a preset course or option, and a necessary detergent amount according to the detected laundry amount.
After the information displaying step B3, the controller P may perform an execution inputting step B6 by detecting whether a user inputs the execution unit 170, or may perform a course setting step B4 and a change displaying step B5 by detecting whether the user changes a course or option.
The information displaying step B3, the course setting step B4, the change displaying step B5, and the execution inputting step B6 may be the same as the aforementioned embodiment.
If the door 13 is open/closed, it may mean that it is highly probable that the laundry is already put in the drum 30. In addition, if the door 13 is opened/closed, it may mean that an amount of the laundry is increased/decreased in the drum 30.
Accordingly, if detecting that the door 13 is opened/closed, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may immediately detect the amount of the laundry and then inform the user of the laundry amount itself, an estimated execution time of a course or option (or a changed execution time), and a necessary detergent amount (or a changed detergent amount).
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may be configured to detect an amount of laundry when a user selects a desired course or option from a plurality of courses or options.
An estimated execution time necessary for a user or a necessary detergent amount may include an execution time or a detergent amount of a course or option selected by the user. Therefore, when a user selects a course or option, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may be configured to provide an estimated execution time or detergent amount corresponding to the selected course or option.
Meanwhile, a time point for a user to input the course selection unit 140 and the option selection unit 160 is after the power unit 120 is inputted, and highly likely, after laundry is put in the drum 30 via opening/closing the door 13.
So to speak, if an estimated execution time or a detergent amount according to an amount of laundry is provided to a user after a time point when the course selection unit 140 and the option selection unit 160 are inputted, an estimated execution time or a detergent amount may be accurately provided to the user irrespective of whether the user is a person who has a habit of putting laundry in the drum 30 and then inputting the power unit 120 or a person who inputs the power unit 120 first and puts laundry into the drum 30.
To this end, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a course inputting step C1 of detecting that the course selection unit 140 or the option selection unit 160 is inputted.
If detecting that the course selection unit 140 or the option selection unit 160 is inputted, the controller P may perform a laundry amount detecting step C2 of detecting an amount of laundry.
Once the laundry amount detecting step C2 is performed, the controller P may perform an information displaying step C3 of displaying at least one of the amount of the laundry, an estimated execution time of a selected course or option corresponding to the amount of the laundry, and a detergent amount for performing the course or option on the display portion 16.
After the information displaying step C3, the controller P may perform an execution inputting step C6 of detecting whether a user inputs the execution unit 170, or may perform a course setting step C4 and a change displaying step C5 by detecting whether the user changes a course or option.
The information displaying step C3, the course setting step C4, the change displaying step C5, and the execution inputting step C6 may be the same as the aforementioned embodiment.
In some implementations, the laundry amount detecting step may be performed to start a course or option before supplying water to the tub 20 or to detect a dewatered laundry amount to perform a dewatering cycle after draining the water from the tub 20.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may be configured to additionally detect a laundry amount even after performing a course or option according to an input to the execution unit 120 after laundry amount detection.
Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may check whether an amount of laundry is too large to perform the course or option or whether an estimated laundry amount or a detergent amount is excessively represented as the laundry is excessively weighed due to a hydrated state of the laundry (i.e., wet laundry).
As a result, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure not only quickly detects an amount of laundry, but also accurately detects a state of the laundry even afterwards, thereby making adjustment to perform an optimal course or option.
Referring to
Thereafter, if a course setting step E5 of setting a desired course or option by inputting one or more of the course selection unit 140 and the option selection unit 160 by a user, a change displaying step E6 of displaying an execution time or a necessary detergent amount of the changed course or option may be performed.
If the user confirms the desired course or option in the information displaying step E4 or the change displaying step E6, an execution inputting step E7 of performing the course or option by inputting the execution unit 170 may be performed.
If the course or option is performed, the door 13 may be locked to the cabinet 10.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform an additional detecting step E9 of additionally checking a state of the laundry when there is no risk of water, detergent, or laundry being discharged through the door 13.
If the laundry amount, the estimated execution time and the necessary detergent amount are changed through the additional detecting step E9, the controller P may perform a final displaying step E10 of immediately informing the user of the change.
Accordingly, when a situation change occurs in the matters provided to the user in the information displaying step E4, a control method corresponding thereto may be modified, and the modified control method may be provided to the user.
As a result, a course or option may be performed more appropriately for the laundry and an appropriate response of the user may be induced by informing the user of the changed situation.
For example, when a laundry amount value of the laundry is greater than a reference value for performing a course or option in the additional detecting step E9, the controller P may display guidance on stopping performing a course or option and withdrawing some of the laundry on the display portion 16 in the final displaying step E10.
Moreover, if detecting that the laundry, which is wet, is weighed excessively in the additional detecting step E9, the controller P may modify and display the estimated execution time or a remaining time or the necessary detergent amount on the display portion 16 in the final displaying step E10.
If the execution unit 170 is inputted, the controller P may re-calculate an estimated time of the arbitrary course or option by additionally detecting an amount of the laundry.
As described above, the controller may primarily detect a laundry amount of clothes before the execution unit is inputted, and may additionally detect a laundry amount when the execution unit is input.
The display portion may display an estimated execution time of the course or option corresponding to the primarily detected laundry amount before the execution unit is inputted, and may display an estimated execution time of the course or option corresponding to the additionally detected laundry amount when the execution unit is inputted.
When the execution unit is inputted, the display portion may change the estimated execution time of the course or option corresponding to the primarily detected laundry amount to the estimated execution time of the course or option corresponding to the additionally detected laundry amount and then display the changed estimated execution time.
The display portion may display the estimated execution time of the course or option corresponding to the additionally detected laundry amount longer than the estimated execution time of the course or option corresponding to the primarily detected laundry amount.
The secondarily displayed estimated execution time may last until the course or option is performed.
Meanwhile, when the controller P recalculates the course or option, the laundry amount may be more accurately detected.
To this end, the time for the controller P to additionally detect the laundry amount may be set to be longer than the time for primarily detecting the laundry amount.
The controller P may be provided to control the drive portion to detect the laundry amount. The drive portion may be controlled to intermittently rotate the drum primarily before the execution unit is inputted, and may be controlled to intermittently rotate the drum secondarily after the execution unit is inputted. In this case, the controller P may control the drive portion so that the angle or number of revolutions for intermittently rotating the drum secondarily is greater than the angle or number of revolutions for intermittently rotating the drum primarily. That is, the controller P may accurately detect the laundry amount through more information and time when additionally detecting the laundry amount.
In the laundry amount detecting step, the drive portion may rotate less than one rotation when performing the primarily intermittent rotation, thereby reducing the laundry amount detection time. Yet, when performing the secondarily intermittent rotation, the drive portion may rotate more than one rotation, thereby promoting precision in laundry amount detection.
Meanwhile, the display portion may display that the estimated execution time of the course or option corresponding to the additionally detected laundry amount is a final estimated execution time.
As described above, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a laundry amount detecting step of detecting an amount of laundry before an input of the execution unit 170. The laundry amount detecting step described below may be performed in the aforementioned laundry amount detecting step.
The laundry amount detecting step may include a rotating step D1 of rotating the drum and a calculating step D3 of calculating a weight of laundry by measuring a first current value applied to or outputted in the rotating step.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may rotate the drum 30 less than one revolution in the rotating step D1. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may detect an amount of the laundry before rotating the drum 30 at one revolution.
For example, the laundry amount detecting step may be terminated within 1 second. Accordingly, before determining that a user inputs the power unit 120, opens/closes the door 13, or selects the arbitrary course or option and inputs the execution unit 170, one or more of an amount of the laundry and an estimated execution time and detergent amount based on the laundry amount may be displayed on the display portion 17.
Accordingly, the user may select or change a course or option while checking the estimated execution time and the detergent amount, and input the execution unit 170.
As a result, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may quickly detect an amount of laundry before finally determining to perform a course or option selected by a user, thereby providing an estimated execution time or a detergent amount.
In addition, a user may be prevented from waiting for a long time to check an estimated execution time and an appropriate detergent amount of a course or option selected by the user. As a result, washing delay can be prevented.
Meanwhile, in the laundry amount detecting step, the rotating step D1 is terminated before the drum 30 makes one revolution. Hence, in the laundry amount detecting step, a restoring step D2 of returning the drum 30 to an original position may be performed.
The calculating step D3 may be performed when the rotating step D1 is being performed or when the rotation step D1 is terminated, and may be performed when both the rotating step D1 and the restoring step D2 are performed.
The laundry amount detecting step may further include a displaying step D4 of displaying the amount of the laundry on the display portion 17 when the calculating step D3 is terminated.
In the displaying step D4, the amount of the laundry may be displayed only, an estimated execution time of a specific course or option corresponding to the laundry amount may be displayed, or a required detergent amount necessary to perform the course or option may be displayed.
The laundry amount detecting step may be performed before an input of the execution unit 170, or may be identically performed in an additional detecting step and the like performed after the execution unit 170 has been inputted.
Namely, in each of a dry laundry amount detecting step to perform a washing cycle and a wet laundry amount detecting step to perform a dewatering cycle, the same laundry amount detecting step may be performed. In addition, in a step of checking whether laundry is wet laundry or dry laundry, the laundry amount detecting step may be performed.
Referring to
Referring to
In the rotating step D1, the drum 30 may be rotated up to or less than an angle at which the laundry is separated from an inner wall of the drum or the disposition is varied. Accordingly, while the position of the laundry in the drum 30 is varied, unnecessary loads or impacts may be prevented from being transmitted to the drive portion 9. Accordingly, the controller P may accurately calculate the load of the laundry through a current value applied to or output from the drive portion 9.
For example, in the rotating step D1, the drum may be rotated in a range of 0° to 90° or less.
However, as the rotation angle of the drum 30 decreases, the time for the controller P to detect the laundry amount may be shortened, and an error in detecting the weight of the laundry may decrease. Accordingly, in the rotating step D1, it is preferable that the drum 30 rotates in a range of 10 degrees to 45 degrees or less.
Referring to
The controller P may use an equation of Te=Jdw/dt+Bw+mgrsinΘ to detect the laundry amount.
Te is a torque value applied to the drive portion 9 and corresponds to ‘I (current value)×K (drive portion constant)’. That is, since the drive portion constant k is an eigenvalue of the drive portion 9 itself, the controller P may calculate a torque value applied to the drive portion 9 when detecting the current value I.
Here, in the case of sin Θ in mgrsin Θ, as the rotation angle of the drum decreases, it decreases exponentially, and thus any angle between 15 and 90 degrees or between 10 and 45 degrees may be sufficiently ignored.
In addition, Bw is a friction torque, and when the drum 30 rotates, B becomes very small, so it may be ignored.
As a result, only the formula Te=Jdw/dt may remain. In this case, since dw/dt is an angular acceleration for rotating the drum, the controller p may detect an angular acceleration when rotating the drum in the rotating step d1. The angular acceleration may also be directly calculated through a current value applied to the drive portion 9.
Therefore, when the current value is measured, both the torque value Te applied to the drive portion 9 and the angular acceleration dw/dt may be calculated, and thus an inertial moment J may be calculated.
As a result, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may immediately detect the amount of the laundry by grasping the inertial moment J.
In the storage unit, data for describing association between the inertia moment and the laundry amount may be stored.
If obtaining the weight of the laundry, it is able to detect an inertia moment generated when the laundry is rotated in the drum 30. If obtaining the inertia moment, it is able to detect the weight of the laundry.
For example, if the controller P detects the inertia moment as 55000 in the calculating step D3, when the drum 30 is rotated counterclockwise, an amount of the laundry may be confirmed as 2 kg. When the drum 30 is rotated clockwise, the amount of the laundry may be confirmed as 3 kg.
Thus, the controller p may immediately detect the amount of the laundry through data obtained by arranging the inertial moment and the weight of the laundry stored in the storage unit p2 based on a diameter of the drum 30, a rotation direction of the drum 30 and the like.
Consequently, the controller P may detect the amount of the laundry by detecting only a current value applied or output in the rotating step D1. That is, the calculating step D3 may be performed during the rotating step D1 or at the moment when the rotating step D1 is terminated.
As a result, the rotating step D1 and the calculating step D3 may be completely performed before the position of the drum 30 is restored to the original position. That is, the calculating step D3 may already be terminated before the restoring step D2 is terminated.
As a result, the rotating step D1 and the calculating step D3 may be entirely performed within 0.3 to 1 second, and the laundry amount detecting step itself may be performed within 0.3 to 1 second.
Therefore, the controller P may detect the laundry amount in an instant so that a user hardly feels the time for detecting the laundry amount and provide an execution time of a selected course or option.
Meanwhile, when the laundry amount is detected in the calculating step D3, the controller P may calculate and display an execution time or detergent amount of a course or option corresponding to the laundry amount almost at the same time.
As a result, the rotating step D1, the calculating step D3, and the displaying step D4 may be entirely performed before the position of the drum is restored.
Therefore, the rotating step D1, the calculating step D3, and the displaying step D4 may be entirely performed within 0.3 to 1 second.
Referring to
The controller P controls the drive portion 9 according to a preset course or option, and the drive portion t 9 rotates a drum 4 according to a command of the controller P.
The controller P receives an operation signal or a control command from an input unit 14a and performs an operation. The input unit 14a may be provided with a washing course and an option selection unit for performing washing, rinsing, and dewatering cycles. Accordingly, the washing, rinsing, and dewatering cycles may be performed. In addition, the controller P may control a display portion 14b to display a washing course, washing time, dewatering time, rinsing time, etc., or a current operating stat and the like.
The controller P may control the drive portion 9 to rotate the drum 4 and may also vary the rotation speed of the drum 4. Specifically, the controller P may control the drive portion 9 based on at least one of a current detection unit 225 that detects an output current flowing through the drive portion 9 and a position detection unit 220 that detects a position of the drive portion 230. For example, one of the current detected by the drive portion 9 or the detected position signal may be fed back to a controller 210, and the controller 210 may generate a current signal capable of appropriately controlling the drive portion 9 according to the feedback signal.
Meanwhile, in the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, the position detection unit 235 may be omitted and a position of the drive portion 9 may be detected through the implementation of a separate algorithm. (so-called, a sensor-less drive portion). The sensor-less drive portion 9 may be configured such that the controller P measures the current or voltage outputted from the drive unit 9 to enable the drive unit 9 to obtain a position of a rotor or stator.
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the controller P controls the drive portion 9 will be described.
The drive portion P may be provided as a three-phase motor to control a rotation speed, for example, a BLDC motor.
Referring to
That is, the controller P may simultaneously serve as the inverter controller 430. Of course, the inverter controller 430 may be provided separately from the controller P. When the inverter controller 430 outputs a switching control signal Sic of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) type to the inverter 420, the inverter 420 may perform a high-speed switching operation and supply AC power at a predetermined frequency to the rotor 913 and the stator 911.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a DC stage voltage detection unit B, a smoothing capacitor C, and an output current detection unit E as well as the converter 410, the inverter 420, and the inverter controller 430. In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include an input current detection unit A, a reactor L, and the like.
The reactor L is disposed between a commercial AC power source (vs) 405 and the converter 410 to perform a power factor correction or boosting operation. In addition, the reactor L may perform a function of limiting a harmonic current due to high-speed switching of the converter 410.
The input current detection unit A may detect an input current (is) inputted from the commercial AC power source 405. To this end, a Current Transformer (CT), a shunt resistor, or the like may be used as the input current detection unit A. The detected input current (is) is a pulse-type discrete signal and may be inputted to the inverter controller 430.
The converter 410 converts the commercial AC power source 405 that has passed through the reactor L into a DC power source and outputs it. Although the commercial AC power source 405 is illustrated as a single-phase AC power source in the drawing, it may also be a three-phase AC power source. The internal structure of the converter 410 is also changed according to the type of the commercial AC power source 405.
Meanwhile, the converter 410 may consist of a diode and the like without a switching element, and may perform a rectifying operation without a separate switching operation. For example, in the case of a single-phase AC power source, four diodes may be used in a bridge form, and in the case of a three-phase AC power source, six diodes may be used in a bridge form.
The converter 410 may use a half-bridge type converter in which two switching elements and four diodes are connected. In the case of a three-phase AC power source, six switching elements and six diodes may be used. When the converter 410 includes a switching element, a boosting operation, a power factor improvement, and a DC power conversion may be performed by a switching operation of the corresponding switching element.
The smoothing capacitor C smooths an inputted power and stores the smoothed power. In the drawings, one device is illustrated as the smoothing capacitor C, but a plurality of devices may be provided to ensure device stability.
The converter 410 may be connected to an output terminal, but DC power may be directly inputted. For example, DC power from a solar cell may be directly inputted to the smoothing capacitor C or may be inputted by DC/DC conversion. As DC power is stored, both ends of the smooth capacitor C may be referred to as a dc stage or a dc link stage.
The dc stage voltage detection unit B may detect a voltage Vdc of the dc stage corresponding to both ends of the smoothing capacitor C. To this end, the DC stage voltage detection unit B may include a resistance element, an amplifier, and the like. The detected dc stage voltage Vdc is a pulse-type discrete signal and may be inputted to the inverter controller 430.
The inverter 420 may include a plurality of inverter switching elements, convert a DC power source Vdc smoothed by an on/off operation of the switching element into three-phase AC power sources va, vb, and vc of a prescribed frequency, and output the same to the drive portion 9. The inverter 420 is a pair of upper arm switching elements Sa, Sb, Sc) and lower arm switching elements S′a, S′b, and S′c, which are connected in series with each other, respectively, and a total of three pairs of upper and lower arm switching elements (i.e., Sa&S′a,Sb&S′b,Sc&S′c) may be connected in parallel together.
Diodes are connected to the switching elements Sa, S′a, Sb, S′b, Sc, and S′c in reverse parallel, respectively.
The switching elements in the inverter 420 turn on/off operations of the switching elements based on an inverter switching control signal Sic from the inverter controller 430, whereby the three-phase AC power having a prescribed frequency is outputted to the drive portion 9.
The inverter controller 430 may control a switching operation of the inverter 420. To this end, the inverter control unit 430 may receive an input of an output current io detected by an output current detection unit E.
The inverter controller 430 outputs the inverter switching control signal Sic to the inverter 420 in order to control the switching operation of the inverter 420. The inverter switching control signal Sic is a switching control signal of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), and is generated and outputted based on the output current value io detected from the output current detection unit E.
The controller P may detect the output current value io detected by the current detection unit 220 to detect the state inside the drum. In addition, the controller P may detect a state inside the drum based on a position signal H detected by the position detection unit 235. For example, while the drum 40 rotates, it is possible to detect a laundry amount, a dewatering rate, a moisture content, and the like based on the output current value io of the drive portion 9. In addition, the controller P may detect an eccentric amount of the drum 4, that is, an Unbalance UB of the drum 4. This eccentricity detection may be performed based on a ripple component of the current io detected by the current detection unit 220 or a variation of the rotation speed of the drum 4.
In addition, the controller P may detect a state inside the drum by detecting an input current value (is) inputted to the inverter controller. A process of detecting the state inside the drum through the current value and a calculation method will be described later.
The output current detection unit E may be provided to detect an output current io flowing between the inverter 420 and the three-phase drive portion 9. The output current detection unit E detects a current flowing through the drive portion 9. The output current detection unit E may detect all of the output power currents ia, ib, and ic of the phases, and may detect output power currents of two phases using three-phase equilibrium.
The output current detection unit E may be positioned between the inverter 420 and the drive portion 9, and a Current Transformer (CT), a shunt resistor, and the like may be used for current detection. When the shunt resistor is used, three shunt resistors may be positioned between the inverter 420 and the drive portion 9, or one ends thereof may be connected to the three lower arm switching elements S′a, S′b, and S′c of the inverter 420, respectively.
Meanwhile, it is also possible to use two shunt resistors using three-phase equilibrium. In addition, when a single shunt resistor is used, the corresponding shunt resistor may be disposed between the capacitor C and the inverter 420 described above.
The detected output current io is a pulse-type discrete signal that may be applied to the inverter controller 430, and an inverter switching control signal Sic is generated based on the detected output current io. Hereinafter, it will be described that the detected output current io includes three-phase output currents ia, ib, and ic.
Meanwhile, the three-phase drive portion 9 has a stator and a rotor, and each current power of a prescribed frequency is applied to a coil of the stator of each of the phases a, b, and c, whereby the rotor rotates.
Such a drive portion 9 may include a Surface-Mounted Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor (SMPMSM), an Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (IPMSM), and a Synchronous Reluctance Motor (Synrm). Among them, the SMPMSM and the IPMSM are Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM) using permanent magnets, and the Synrm is characterized in having no permanent magnet.
Meanwhile, when the converter 410 includes a switch element, the inverter controller 430 may control a switching operation of the switching element in the converter 410. To this end, the inverter controller 430 may receive an input current (is) detected by the input current detection unit A. And, the inverter controller 430 may output a converter switching control signal Scc to the converter 410 to control the switching operation of the converter 410. The converter switching control signal Scc is a switching control signal of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) type, and may be generated and outputted based on the input current (is) detected by the input current detection unit A.
Meanwhile, the position detection unit 235 may detect a rotor position of the drive portion 9. To this end, the position detection unit 235 may include a hall sensor. The detected rotor position H is inputted to the inverter controller 430, thereby being basically used for speed calculation and the like.
The axial transform unit 510 receives the three-phase output currents ia, ib, and is detected by the output current detection unit E and transforms them into two-phase currents iα and iβ of the stationary coordinate system. The axial transform unit 510 may transform the two-phase currents iα and iβ of the stationary coordinate system into the two-phase currents id and iq of a rotary coordinate system.
The speed calculation unit 520 may calculate a speed based on the position signal H of the rotor inputted from the position detection unit 235. That is, based on the position signal, when it is divided over time, the speed may be calculated. The speed calculation unit 520 may output a position and speed calculated based on the inputted position signal H of the rotor.
The current command generation unit 530 generates a current command value i*q based on a calculation speed w and a speed command value ω*r. For example, the current command generation unit 530 may perform PI control in the PI controller 535 based on the difference between the calculation speed w and the speed command value ω*r, and may generate the current command value i*q. In the drawing, a q-axis current command value i*q is illustrated as a current command value, but unlike the drawing, a d-axis current command value i*d may be generated together. Meanwhile, the value of the d-axis current command value i*d may be set to 0.
Meanwhile, the current command generation unit 530 may further include a limiter that limits the level of the current command value i*q so that it does not exceed an allowable range. Next, the voltage command generation unit 540 generates d-axis and q-axis voltage command values v*d and v*q based on the d-axis and q-axis currents id and iq axially transformed into a two-phase rotary coordinate system in the axial transform unit and the current command values i*d and i*q in the current command generation unit 530 and the like. For example, the voltage command generation unit 540 may perform PI control in the PI controller 544 based on the difference between the q-axis current iq and the q-axis current command value i*q, and may generate a q-axis voltage command value v*q. In addition, the voltage command generation unit 540 may perform PI control in the PI controller 548 based on the difference between the d-axis current id and the d-axis current command value i*d, and may generate a d-axis voltage command value v*d. Meanwhile, the value of the d-axis voltage command value v*d may be set to 0 so as to correspond to the case where the value of the d-axis current command value i*d is set to 0.
Meanwhile, the voltage command generation unit 540 may further include a limiter that limits the level of the d-axis and q-axis voltage command values v*d and v*q)so that they do not exceed the allowable range.
Meanwhile, the generated d-axis and q-axis voltage command values v*d and v*q are inputted to the axial transform unit 550.
The axial transform unit 550 receives the position Θ calculated by the speed calculation unit 520 and the d-axis and q-axis voltage command values v*d and v*q, and performs axial transform. First, the axial transform unit 550 performs transform from the two-phase rotary coordinate system to the two-phase stationary coordinate system. In this case, the position Θ calculated by the speed calculation unit 520 may be used.
In addition, the axial transform unit 550 performs transform from the two-phase stationary coordinate system to the three-phase stationary coordinate system. Through such transform, the axial transform unit 1050 outputs three-phase output voltage command values v*a, v*b, and v*c.
The switching control signal output unit 560 generates and outputs a switching control signal Sic for an inverter according to Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) based on the three-phase output voltage command values v*a, v*b, and v*c.
The outputted inverter switching control signal Sic may be converted into a gate drive signal by a gate drive unit and inputted to a gate of each switching element in the inverter 420. Accordingly, each of the switching elements Sa, S′a, Sb, S′b, Sc, and S′c in the inverter 420 performs a switching operation.
Meanwhile, the switching control signal output unit 560 may generate and output an inverter switching control signal Sic obtained by mixing two-phase pulse width modulation and three-phase pulse width modulation together according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
For example, in an accelerated rotation interval described later, an inverter switching control signal Sic by three-phase pulse width modulation may be generated and outputted. In order to detect counter electromotive force in a constant speed rotation interval, an inverter switching control signal Sic by two-phase pulse width modulation may be generated and outputted.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a detecting step F of detecting a laundry amount inside the drum 4 before performing a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dewatering cycle.
To this end, the controller P may perform an acceleration step F1 of accelerating the drum 4, a deceleration step F2 of decelerating the drum 4, and a laundry amount detection step F3 of detecting a laundry amount received in the drum through an acceleration measurement value of the drive portion 9 in the acceleration step and a deceleration measurement value of the drive portion in the deceleration step.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure detects an acceleration measurement value measured by the drive portion 9 or applied to the drive portion 9 while accelerating the drive portion 9, and also detects a deceleration measurement value measured by the drive portion 9 or applied to the drive portion 9 while decelerating the drive portion 9. Thereafter, the acceleration measurement value and the deceleration measurement value are calculated to detect the laundry amount received in the drum 4.
The acceleration measurement value and the deceleration measurement value may be the command values applied to the drive portion 9 while driving the drive portion 9, or may be the measurement values measured by the drive portion 9 while driving the drive portion 9.
For example, the command value may be a current command value or a voltage command value derived from the PI controller 535, which is applied to drive the drive portion 9, and the above measured value may be a current or voltage value of the drive portion 9, which is measured by the position detection unit 235 or the current detection unit 225.
Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may skip the step of maintaining the drive portion 9 at a constant speed, thereby significantly reducing the time required to detect the laundry amount.
In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may save not only the process of maintaining the drive portion 9 at a constant speed, but also the energy and time required to maintain the constant speed. In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may completely ignore the frictional force of the drive portion 9 itself, which must be overcome when the drive portion 9 is maintained at the constant speed, in the calculation process.
When the controller P uses the command value when detecting the laundry amount, the controller P does not need to feedback an actual situation to the drive portion 9 or consider an actual driving situation of the drive portion 9. Accordingly, it may be simple and easy for the controller P to calculate a laundry amount value. In addition, since the calculation equation for calculating the laundry amount becomes simple, the laundry amount value may be quickly obtained.
Specifically, the acceleration measurement value may include an acceleration current value Iq_Acc measured by the drive portion 9, and the deceleration measurement value may include a deceleration current value Iq_Dec measured by the drive portion 9.
The acceleration current value may include a current command value Iq*_Acc for rotating the drive portion 9 in the acceleration step, and the deceleration current value may include a current command value Iq*_Dec for rotating the drive unit 9 in the deceleration step.
On the other hand, if the measurement value is used when the controller P detects the laundry amount, since the drive portion 9 reflects the actual situation as it is, there is an advantage in that the laundry amount value may be accurately obtained.
In addition, the command value is generated only when the drive portion 9 is driven or controller actively by having a power applied thereto. Therefore, the advantage of using the above measured value is that data for detecting the laundry amount may be obtained even when the power is cut off to the drive portion 9 or the drive portion 9 is not actively controlled.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may decelerate the drive portion 9 by power generation braking in a manner of cutting off power in the deceleration step F2. Accordingly, an algorithm for controlling the deceleration step F2 may be omitted, and energy for the deceleration step F2 may be saved.
Furthermore, since the power is cut off in the deceleration step F2, the voltage command value may be 0. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, a laundry amount may be detected by calculating only a current except a voltage.
That is, the method of controlling the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may ignore or not use a voltage command value or a voltage value itself. Since the method uses only a current value, it is very simple to have a calculation equation for laundry amount detection. Since the calculation equation is simplified, the calculation can be quickly and accurately performed, whereby a laundry amount may be accurately detected.
Specifically, data and algorithm (hereinafter, calculation equation) for calculating the acceleration measurement value and the deceleration measurement value may be stored in the controller P. The calculation equation may be provided so as not to use a voltage value from the beginning. For this reason, it is not necessary to calculate a counter electromotive force, whereby the present disclosure may omit the constant speed rotation step of the drive portion 9.
For example, the calculation equation of the present disclosure may be provided as follows.
Laundry amount value (inertia, Jm, Load_data) of the present disclosure
may be calculated by the following equation. The P and Ke are constant values of the drive portion 9 itself, and may be measured by the controller P. A denominator corresponds to a difference between a speed variation in the acceleration step and a speed variation in the deceleration stage.
The speed variation may be measured by the controller P owing to the position detection unit 235, calculated by measuring a time reached until the acceleration or deceleration, or immediately detected by measuring a current or the like.
Therefore, in the present disclosure, a laundry amount may be immediately calculated only by measuring an acceleration output current value Iq_Acc at the acceleration and an acceleration output current value Iq_Dec at the deceleration. In other words, the acceleration current value may be regarded as including an acceleration output current value Iq_Acc outputted from the drive portion during the acceleration step, and the deceleration current value may be regarded as including a deceleration output current value Iq_Dec outputted from the drive portion during the deceleration step.
Furthermore, an average value Iqe_Acc of the current value measured by the drive portion during the acceleration step may be applied to the acceleration output current value, and an average value Iqe_Dec of the current value measured by the drive portion during the deceleration step may be applied to the deceleration output current value..
In any case, the laundry amount may be calculated with only one factor of a current value, and a factor of a voltage value may be omitted, thereby simplifying a laundry amount calculation and improving the promptness and accuracy of the capacity value.
Therefore, even if the time of the acceleration step is very short or the time of the acceleration step is very short, the laundry amount can be accurately detected, whereby the time taken for laundry amount detection may be further reduced.
Meanwhile, in the laundry amount detection of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, a laundry amount is detected in a manner of accelerating and then decelerating immediately. Therefore, the time for measuring the laundry amount itself is very short, and laundry inside the drum 4 cannot move or flow during the time. Accordingly, since the laundry amount may be detected in a short time when a state of the laundry does not change, accuracy may be further increased in the laundry amount calculation.
Meanwhile, the calculation equation applied to the laundry amount detection of the present disclosure uses the difference between the current value of the acceleration step and the current value of the deceleration step. Therefore, a friction force of the drive portion in the acceleration step and the friction force of the drive portion in the deceleration step are the same, so the compensation equation of the current considering the friction force is offset. Therefore, the method of controlling the laundry amount detection in the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure does not need to consider the friction force of the drive portion 9, so a process of correcting or tuning the friction force may be omitted. Furthermore, since a voltage value is not used in the present disclosure, a process of compensating or tuning a voltage value error may be omitted. As a constant speed process is omitted, a process of compensating or tuning laundry movement or a friction force of the drive portion 9 may be omitted. As a result, the method of controlling the laundry amount in the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure derives a laundry amount as soon as a current value is substituted, and since there is no procedure for compensating or tuning the laundry amount, the laundry amount may be detected very quickly and accurately.
Therefore, the amount of load required for the controller P may be reduced, the controller P may be replaced with a relatively simple configuration, or the performance of the controller P may be utilized in other directions.
Meanwhile, as can be seen in the above calculation equation, the acceleration measurement value may further include a speed variation of the acceleration step F1, and the deceleration measurement value may further include a speed variation of the deceleration step F2.
The speed variation of the acceleration step F1 and the speed variation of the deceleration step F2 are only required to obtain a difference between the inertia of the acceleration step F1 and the inertia of the deceleration step F2, and may not require a separate voltage value measurement and the like, and furthermore, no compensation or tuning process is required.
In more detail, the calculation equation is derived by the following calculation equations.
In this case, since the laundry amount is calculated through the difference between the acceleration inertia and the deceleration inertia, the variation is required for the speed.
Therefore, if the acceleration measurement value and the deceleration measurement value are measured in the same RPM interval of the drum, the operation may be simplified because the width of the speed change is the same. That is, it is preferable that the acceleration step F1 and the deceleration step F2 share the same speed band.
Meanwhile, the control method of the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure performs the acceleration step F1 and deceleration step F2 to detect a laundry amount using a current command value or a current value measured by the drive portion 9.
In this case, since the calculation equation uses a current value, a laundry amount may be detected through the same calculation equation by measuring a current value in a manner of performing the deceleration step F2 first and then performing the acceleration step Bb.
Meanwhile, the detection step F3 may perform a preparation step F0 of checking a position of the drive portion 9 in order to set reference values for performing the acceleration step F1 and the deceleration step F2. In the preparation step F0, the drum 4 may be disposed in a stopped state.
The acceleration step F1 may additionally accelerate the drum stopped in the preparation step F0 to a first rpm, and the deceleration step F2 may decelerate the drum at a first rpm. That is, the acceleration step F1 and the deceleration step F2 may be continuously performed. In the deceleration step F2, a current command value toward the drive portion 9 in the acceleration step F1 may be lowered or a voltage applied to the drive portion 9 may be blocked, and thus the controller P or the circuit may not be damaged.
In this case, the acceleration measurement value and the deceleration measurement value may be measured between the first rpm and a second rpm lower than the first rpm. That is, a current value may be measured in an interval band including a vertex in the speed graph to detect a laundry amount. This has an advantage in that a situation in which an error may occur may be minimized since a current value is measured in a continuous situation to detect the laundry amount.
Meanwhile, the acceleration measurement value and the deceleration measurement value may be measured between the second rpm lower than the first rpm and a third rpm higher than the second rpm and lower than the first rpm. That is, although it is not the interval including the vertex, a current value may be measured in the same speed interval band to detect a laundry amount. This has an advantage of improving the accuracy of the laundry amount calculation by measuring a stabilized current value as the speed change is the largest at the vertex.
Meanwhile, the first rpm may be set to a lower rpm than a fixed rpm at which laundry received in the drum 4 is attached to the inner wall of the drum 4. That is, the first rpm may be relatively lower than the rpm applied in a washing, rinsing, or dewatering cycle.
The acceleration step F1 may correspond to the rotation step D1, and the deceleration step F2 may correspond to the restoration step D2. As a result, the restoration step D2 may be a step of applying a current to the controller P actively to rotate the drive portion 9 in reverse.
The laundry amount detection step F3 corresponds to the calculation step D3, and the calculation step D3 may immediately detect a laundry amount through the current value of the rotation step D1 and the current value of the restoration step D2.
In this case, a process of directly calculating the moment of inertia by the controller P or a process of comparing the moment of inertia with the laundry amount data of clothes stored in the storage unit P2 and extracting it may be omitted.
A current amount applied in the rotation step D1 may be defined as a first current amount, and a current amount applied in the deceleration step F2 may be defined as a second current. The controller P may detect the laundry amount through the first current amount and the second current amount.
The embodiment of
The controller P may detect counter electromotive force generated in the interruption step F2′, measure a current value corresponding to the counter electromotive force, and detect a laundry amount through the calculation method shown in
Even in this case, the process of directly calculating the moment of inertia by the controller P or the process of comparing the moment of inertia with the laundry amount data of the laundry stored in the storage unit P2 and then extracting it may be omitted.
An amount of a current applied in the rotation step D1 may be defined as a first current amount, and an amount of a current applied in the interruption step F2′ may be defined as a third current amount. The controller P may detect the laundry amount through the first current amount and the third current amount.
As described above (refer to Background Art of the disclosure), since the related art laundry treating apparatus detects a laundry amount after a course or option has been executed, a user cannot recognize the amount of the laundry until the course or option is selected and executed.
In addition, since the related art laundry treating apparatus rotates a drum at least one rotation or more when detecting a laundry amount, it is unable to quickly perform laundry amount detection, and thus the laundry amount is displayed relatively late even after execution of a course or option.
Therefore, in the case of the related art laundry treating apparatus, since a user does not recognize a laundry amount before executing a course or option, there is no room for putting a suitable detergent, and a detergent is excessively added to ensure washing performance. This not only wastes the detergent, but also damages health as residual detergent remains in the laundry, and causes environmental pollution.
In addition, in case of the related art laundry treating apparatus, a user usually leaves the laundry treating apparatus without waiting until detecting a laundry amount after executing a course or option, thereby failing to check an execution time or end time of the course or option.
Accordingly, the user often has to visit the laundry treating apparatus to check the end of the course or option. In addition, in the related art laundry treating apparatus, laundry is left in the drum for a long time even after the course or option is terminated, causing wrinkles in the laundry, or in severe cases, decomposition of the laundry may occur.
Furthermore, since the related art laundry treating apparatus performs the locking of a door when a course or option is executed, there is no possibility for a user to adjust a laundry amount thereafter.
However, a laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may detect and display a laundry amount before execution of a course or option.
Accordingly, a user may recognize a laundry amount before executing a course or option and input a detergent in consideration of an appropriate detergent amount corresponding thereto. For example, a user may check a detergent amount corresponding to a laundry amount displayed on a detergent container, and may put the checked detergent into the laundry treating apparatus.
As a result, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure can save a detergent, solve the problem of excessive detergent remaining in the laundry after the end of a course, and prevent environmental pollution.
In addition, since the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure detects a laundry amount by rotating a drum less than one revolution, even if the laundry amount is detected before execution of a course or option, it does not cause washing delay and the like or inconvenience to a user.
For example, in the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, when a power unit is inputted or opening/closing of a door is detected due to the input of laundry, a laundry amount is detected and displayed within 3 seconds, so that a washing delay is not caused.
In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may detect a laundry amount before executing a course or option and display an estimated time or an end time of the course or option corresponding to the laundry amount.
Accordingly, in a process for selecting a prescribed course or option from arbitrary courses or options, a user may recognize an estimated time or an end time of each course or option. Thus, the user may select a course or option suitable for a current schedule.
In addition, a user may recognize an estimated time or end time of a course or option before executing the course or option. Therefore, since the user checks the estimated time or the end time and then executes the course or option, it is possible to reduce the trouble of checking the laundry treating apparatus until the end of the course or option. Furthermore, since the user can recognize the end time of the course or the option, it is possible to prevent laundry from being left inside a drum after the end of the course.
In addition, since the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure does not lock the door before executing a course or option, a laundry amount is detected and displayed before the door is locked. Accordingly, a user may further put or withdraw laundry by checking the displayed laundry amount.
For example, if a user determines that there is too much laundry amount to perform a specific course or option, the user withdraws some of laundry to prevent an operation of the laundry treating apparatus from being interrupted due to future eccentricity and over-vibration.
For example, when a user confirms that laundry is bulky but weighs less, more laundry can be added to prevent contaminated laundry from being left unattended for a long time.
As described above, unlike the related art laundry treating apparatus, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure quickly detects a laundry amount, and thus displays the laundry amount or an estimated execution time before executing a course or option or locking a door, thereby deriving the aforementioned remarkable effects.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2021-0024377 | Feb 2021 | KR | national |
This application is a National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/KR2022/002627, filed on Feb. 23, 2022, which claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2021-0024377 filed on Feb. 23, 2021. The disclosures of the prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2022/002627 | 2/23/2022 | WO |
