DRYER AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

A including a sensor, a memory configured to store at least one instruction, and a processor configured to obtain, by being connected with the memory and executing at least one instruction, an internal humidity of the dryer through the sensor, identify an external humidity of the dryer based on the obtained internal humidity, obtain, based on a change in the internal humidity and the external humidity, information on an amount of emitted moisture of a drying object inserted in the dryer, and identify whether drying is complete by comparing information on the amount of emitted moisture with a threshold value.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to a dryer and a controlling method thereof, and more particularly, to a dryer configured to identify humidity inside the dryer through at least one humidity sensor and determine a drying progress state and drying complete time point based on the identified internal humidity and a controlling method thereof

2. Description of Related Art

Dryers of the related art have performed drying until a surface is dried by pre-setting time relying on firsthand experience of a user or identifying amount of moisture of the surface by using an electrode-based contact-type sensor to determine how long drying is to be performed on clothing which is inserted in the dryer, and then performed drying in a method of performing further drying additionally for a certain time.

Dryers of the related art have had the problem of drying being completed in a wet state due to the user inputting a wrong time relying on the experience of the user, or clothing being damaged due to continuous drying being performed in a state in which the drying is complete.

Dryers using a method of contacting a drying degree of the surface by using a contact-type electrode has the problem of semi-drying or over-drying occurring due to the time for performing additional drying after the surface of the clothing is dried being based on a pre-set time by a manufacturer.

Dryers of the related art have the problem of selecting a type of clothing every time the user starts drying due to drying times varying according to a material of the clothing.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a dryer includes at least one sensor to sense an internal humidity of the dryer, a memory configured to store at least one instruction, and a processor connected with the memory and configured to control the dryer, and the processor is configured to obtain, based on executing the at least one instruction, the internal humidity of the dryer through the at least one sensor, identify an external humidity of the dryer based on the obtained internal humidity, obtain, based on a change in the internal humidity and a change in the external humidity, information on an amount of moisture of an object placed in the dryer to be dried, and identify whether a drying operation is complete by comparing the information on the amount of moisture of the object with a threshold value.

The processor may be configured to identify a change rate in the internal humidity, and identify the external humidity based on the identified change rate.

The processor may be configured to identify whether the internal humidity passed a maximum humidity point, identify whether the change rate in the internal humidity passed a minimum change rate point, identify, based on identifying that the internal humidity passed the maximum humidity point and the change rate in the internal humidity passed the minimum change rate point, the change rate in the internal humidity, identify, based on the identified change rate in the internal humidity, a predicted point at which the change rate in the internal humidity becomes 0, identify a predicted internal humidity at a point at which the predicted change rate in the internal humidity becomes 0, and identify the predicted internal humidity as the external humidity.

The processor may be configured to identify a value of the internal humidity compared to the external humidity as the amount of moisture of the object, identify a ratio value of the identified amount of moisture of the object with respect to a maximum value of the amount of moisture of the object, and identify the drying operation as complete based on the ratio value being less than or equal to the threshold value.

The threshold value may be set differently according to a characteristic of a object.

The characteristic of the object may include at least one from among a maximum value of the amount of moisture of the object and a time spent on drying.

The processor may be configured to identify a change pattern in the internal humidity, predict a drying complete time point based on the identified change pattern, and provide the predicted drying complete time point.

According to an embodiment, a controlling method of a dryer includes obtaining an internal humidity of the dryer from at least one sensor, identifying an external humidity of the dryer based on the obtained internal humidity, obtaining, based on a change in the internal humidity and a change in the external humidity, information on an amount of moisture of an object placed in the dryer to be dried, and identifying whether a drying operation is complete by comparing the information on the amount of moisture of the object with a threshold value.

The identifying the external humidity may include identifying a change rate in the internal humidity, and identifying the external humidity based on the identified change rate.

The identifying the external humidity may include identifying whether the internal humidity passed a maximum humidity point, identifying whether a change rate in the internal humidity passed a minimum change rate point, identifying, based on identifying that the internal humidity passed the maximum humidity point and the change rate in the internal humidity passed the minimum change rate point, the change rate in the internal humidity, identifying, based on the identified change rate in the internal humidity, a predicted point at which the change rate in the internal humidity becomes 0, identifying a predicted internal humidity at a point at which a change rate in the predicted internal humidity becomes 0, and identifying the predicted internal humidity as the external humidity.

The obtaining the information on the amount of moisture of the object may include identifying a value of the internal humidity compared to the external humidity as the amount of moisture of the object, and identifying a ratio value of the identified amount of moisture of the object with respect to a maximum value of the moisture of the object, and the identifying whether drying is complete may include identifying drying as complete based on the ratio value being less than or equal to the threshold value.

The threshold value may be set differently according to a characteristic of the object.

The characteristic of the object may include at least one from among a maximum value of an amount of moisture of the object and a time spent on drying.

The controlling method may further include identifying a change pattern in the internal humidity, predicting a drying complete time point based on the identified change pattern, and providing the predicted drying complete time point.

According to an embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable recording medium including a program for executing a controlling method of a dryer includes obtaining an internal humidity of the dryer from at least one sensor, identifying an external humidity of the dryer based on the obtained internal humidity, obtaining, based on a change in the internal humidity and a change in the external humidity, information on an amount of moisture of an object placed in the dryer to be dried, and identifying whether a drying operation is complete by comparing the information on the amount of moisture emitted from the object with a threshold value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a dryer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a dryer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view illustrating an open state of a dryer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a controlling method of a dryer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a graph illustrating a change in internal humidity corresponding to a drying progress time when drying a drying object in a dryer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a graph illustrating a change rate in internal humidity corresponding to a drying progress time when drying a drying object in a dryer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a method of identifying whether drying is completed by a dryer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a method of identifying whether drying is completed by a dryer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating an internal humidity according to a drying progress time when a material of fast drying rate, a material of slow drying rate, or mixed materials (e.g., a material of fast drying rate and a material of slow drying rate) is inserted in a dryer;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of setting a threshold value differently according to a characteristic of a drying object according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method of setting a threshold value differently according to a characteristic of a drying object according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a controlling method of a dryer according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various modifications may be made to the embodiments of the disclosure, and there may be various types of embodiments. Accordingly, specific embodiments will be illustrated in drawings, and the embodiments will be described in detail in the detailed description. However, it should be noted that the various embodiments are not for limiting the scope of the disclosure to a specific embodiment, but they should be interpreted to include all modifications, equivalents and/or alternatives of the embodiments. With respect to the description on the drawings, like reference numerals may be used to indicate like elements.

In describing the disclosure, in case it is determined that the detailed description of related known technologies may unnecessarily confuse the gist of the disclosure, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Further, the embodiments below may be modified to various different forms, and it is to be understood that the scope of the technical spirit of the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments below. Rather, the embodiments are provided so that the disclosure will be thorough and complete, and to fully convey the technical spirit of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

Terms used herein have merely been used to describe a specific embodiment, and not to limit the scope the disclosure. A singular expression includes a plural expression, unless otherwise specified.

In the disclosure, expressions such as “comprise,” “may comprise,” “include,” “may include,” or the like are used to designate a presence of a corresponding characteristic (e.g., elements such as numerical value, function, operation, or component, etc.), and not to preclude a presence or a possibility of additional characteristics.

In the disclosure, expressions such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and/or B,” or “one or more of A and/or B” may include all possible combinations of the items listed together. For example, “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” or “at least one of A or B” may refer to all cases including (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) both of at least one A and at least one B.

Expressions such as “first,” “second,” “1st,” “2nd,” and so on used herein may be used to refer to various elements regardless of order and/or importance. Further, it should be noted that the expressions are merely used to distinguish an element from another element and not to limit the relevant elements.

When a certain element (e.g., first element) is indicated as being “(operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to” or “connected to” another element (e.g., second element), it may be understood as the certain element being directly coupled with/to the another element or as being coupled through other element (e.g., third element).

On the other hand, when a certain element (e.g., first element) is indicated as “directly coupled with/to” or “directly connected to” another element (e.g., second element), it may be understood as the other element (e.g., third element) not being present between the certain element and the another element.

The expression “configured to . . . (or set up to)” used in the disclosure may be used interchangeably with, for example, “suitable for . . . ,” “having the capacity to . . . ,” “designed to . . . ,” “adapted to . . . ,” “made to . . . ,” or “capable of... ” based on circumstance. The term “configured to . . . (or set up to)” may not necessarily mean “specifically designed to” in terms of hardware.

Rather, in a certain circumstance, the expression “a device configured to . . . ” may mean something that the device “may perform . . . ” together with another device or components. For example, the phrase “a processor configured to (or set up to) perform A, B, or C” may mean a dedicated processor for performing a corresponding operation (e.g., embedded processor), or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor) capable of performing the corresponding operations by executing one or more software programs stored in the memory device.

The terms “module” or “part” used in the embodiments herein perform at least one function or operation, and may be implemented with a hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software. In addition, a plurality of “modules” or a plurality of “parts”, except for a “module” or a “part” which needs to be implemented to a specific hardware, may be integrated to at least one module and implemented in at least one processor.

Various elements and areas in the drawings have been schematically drawn. Accordingly, it should be understood that the technical spirit of the disclosure is not limited by the relative size or distance illustrated in the accompanied drawings.

The embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail below to assist those of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains to easily realize the embodiments according to the disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide a dryer which accurately identifies a drying progress state and a drying complete time point by detecting humidity inside the dryer using a humidity sensor and improving a drying function of the dryer and a controlling method thereof

Through the above-described embodiments, a drying function of the dryer may be improved as the drying progress state and the drying complete time point are accurately determined based on a humidity value inside the dryer.

Referring to FIG. 1, a dryer 100 may include a sensor 110, a memory 120, a drum 130, a heater 140, a fan 150, a user interface 160, a communication interface 170, a display 180, and a processor 190. They dryer 100 may be configured such that at least some of the elements are omitted, and other elements are further included.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the dryer 100 may include a main body 10 forming an exterior. The main body 10 may be in a cuboid shape elongated in a vertical direction. However, the above is one example provided for convenience of description and the main body 10 may be implemented to various shapes.

The main body 10 may include a front surface panel 11, a top surface panel 12, and a side rear surface panel 13.

The main body 10 may include an opening 10H (referring to FIG. 2B) formed at one side, and the opening 10H may be opened toward a front direction of the main body 10 by being formed at the front surface panel 11. In this case, a door 14 may be coupled to the main body 10 so as to open and close the opening 10H. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the opening 10H may be formed at one side of the main body 10, and the opening 10H may be formed in a circular shape on the front surface panel 11.

The door 14 may open and close the opening 10H by being coupled to be pivotable to the front surface panel 11. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, a hinge 14-1 may be disposed at one side of the front surface panel 11 which is adjacent to the opening 10H, and the door 14 may be coupled to the hinge 14-1 and configured to open and close the opening 10H by rotating based on the hinge 14-1.

The door 14 may be of a circular shape corresponding to a shape of the opening 10H, and configured such that a diameter is greater than the opening 10H. Accordingly, a drying object may be inserted in a drying chamber (not shown) of the drum 130 through the opening 10H as the door 14 is opened.

The sensor 110 may be a humidity sensor for measuring humidity of an inner air of the dryer 100 or a temperature sensor for measuring temperature installed inside the dryer 100. The sensor 110 may be configured to detect the humidity of air flowing out from the drum 130. The sensor 110 may be installed in the drum 130, the heater 140, a flow path (not shown) or a duct (not shown) formed between the drum 130 and the heater 140, but this is merely one embodiment, and the sensor 110 may be installed in various spaces inside of the dryer 100. At this time, the dryer 100 may include at least one sensor 110.

The sensor 110 may be configured to measure an absolute humidity of the inner air of the dryer 100. Alternatively, the sensor 110 may be configured to measure a relative humidity and temperature of the inner air of the dryer 100. The temperature and relative humidity measured by the sensor 110 may be converted to the absolute humidity by the processor 190. The sensor 110 may be configured to measure at least one from among the absolute humidity and the relative humidity of the inner air which changes according to time.

The memory 120 may be configured to store at least one instruction on the dryer 100. The memory 120 may be configured to store an operating system (O/S) to operate the dryer 100. The memory 120 may be configured to store a threshold value for the dryer 100 to identify whether drying is complete. In addition, the memory 120 may be configured to store various software programs or applications to operate the dryer 100 according to various embodiments of the disclosure. Further, the memory 120 may include a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory and the like or a magnetic storage medium such as a hard disk and the like.

Specifically, the memory 120 may be configured to store various software modules for operating the dryer 100, and the processor 190 may be configured to control the operation of the dryer 100 by executing the various software modules stored in the memory 120 according to the various embodiments of the disclosure. That is, the memory 120 may be accessed by the processor 190, and reading/writing/modifying/deleting/updating and the like of data may be performed by the processor 190.

In the disclosure, the term ‘memory 120’ may include the memory 120, a read only memory (ROM; not shown) in the processor 190, a random access memory (RAM; not shown), or a memory card (not shown; e.g., a micro SD card, a memory stick) mounted to the dryer 100.

The drum 130 may be configured such that a drying object is accommodated. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the drum 130 may be disposed rotatably inside the main body 10, and as the drum 130 is connected with the opening 10H, a drying object to be dried may be inserted inside through the opening 10H. Specifically, the drum 130 may include the drying chamber (not shown) connected with the opening 10H, and the drying object to be dried which is inserted in the drying chamber (not shown) through the opening 10H may be dried by hot air introduced to the drying chamber (not shown). The drying object inserted in the drying chamber (not shown) may be tumbled according to a rotation of the drum 130 and air may be applied uniformly to the drying object.

The inside of the main body 10 may be provided with a motor (not shown), and the drum 130 may be rotated according to a rotation of the motor (not shown). Through the above, the drying object inserted in the drying chamber (not shown) may be tumbled and hot air may be applied uniformly to the drying object.

The heater 140 may generate air in which the temperature is high and relative humidity is low by heating external air, and the corresponding air may be provided to the drum 130. The dryer 100 may generate air of a target temperature by controlling the operation of the heater 140 according to the temperature of provided air or air discharged from the drum 130.

The fan 150 may generate an air flow according to rotation. The fan 150 may be operated according to the motor (not shown), and a rotation speed and a rotation direction of the fan 150 may be changed according to the control of the motor (not shown). To dry the drying object accommodated in the drum 130, air discharged from the drum 130 may be introduced back to the drum 130 through a condensation and heating process. That is, the air may be circulated along the flow path (not shown) according to the rotation of the fan 150.

The user interface 160 may be implemented as a device such as a button, a touch pad, a mouse, and a keyboard, or implemented as a touch screen capable of performing the above-described display function with an operation input function. Here, the button may be a button of various types such as a mechanical button, a touch pad, or a wheel formed at a random area such as a front surface part or a side surface part, a rear surface part or the like of the exterior of the main body of the dryer 100. Various user inputs may be input to control the dryer 100 through the user interface 160. For example, referring to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the user interface 160 may be implemented through a control panel 15, an operating part 15-1, and the like. The control panel 15 may be disposed at a top end of the front surface panel 11. The control panel 15 may include the operating part 15-1 configured to input an operating command for operating the dryer 100 and a display part 15-2 configured to display operating information of a clothing dryer 100. In this case, a user may input various user commands for operating the dryer 100 through the operating part 15-1. To this end, the operating part 15-1 may include a button, an operating dial, and the like. For example, the user may select a desired course through the button or the operating dial provided at the operating part 15-1.

The communication interface 170 comprising circuitry may be a configuration capable of communicating with an external device and a server. The communication interface 170 may be configured to perform communication with the external device and the server based on a wired or wireless communication method. According to an embodiment, the communication interface 170 may be configured to perform communication with the external device and the server through wireless communication. In this case, the communication interface 170 may include a Wi-Fi module (not shown), a Bluetooth module (not shown), an infrared (IR) module, a local area network (LAN) module, an Ethernet module, and the like. Here, the respective communication modules may be implemented to at least one hardware chip form. The wireless communication module may include at least one communication chip configured to perform communication according to various wireless communication standards such as ZigBee, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Mobile Industry Processor Interface Camera Serial Interface (MIPI CSI), 3rd Generation (3G), 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), 4th Generation (4G), 5th Generation (5G), and the like in addition to the above-described communication method. However, this is merely one embodiment, and the communication interface 170 may be configured to use at least one communication module from among the various communication modules. The dryer 100 may be configured to transmit information on the drying complete time point to the external device through the communication interface 170.

The display 180 may be disposed outside of the dryer and configured to display a UI screen for selecting a configuration to set a drying mode. The display 180 may be configured to display information on the drying complete time point. Specifically, the display 180 may be configured to output a pre-stored image in the memory 120 by the control of the processor 190. In addition, the display 180 may be configured to display a user interface (UI) stored in the memory 120. The display 180 may be implemented as a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light emitting diodes (OLED), and the like, and the display 180 may also be implemented as a flexible display, a transparent display, and the like in some instances. However, the display 180 according to the disclosure is not limited to a specific type. For example, referring to FIG. 2A, the display 180 may be implemented as a display screen 15-2 displaying operating information of the dryer 100 in a visual image. At this time, the display screen 15-2 may be configured as a touch screen capable of receiving an operating command of the user.

The processor 190 may be configured to control the overall operation and functions of the dryer 100. Specifically, the processor 190 may be connected with a configuration of the dryer 100 including the memory 120, and by executing the at least instruction stored in the memory 120 as described above, control the overall operation of the dryer 100.

The processor 190 may be implemented in various methods. For example, the processor 190 may be implemented as at least one from among an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an embedded processor, a microprocessor, a hardware control logic, a hardware finite state machine (FSM), and a digital signal processor (DSP). In the disclosure, the term processor 190 may be used as including a central processing unit (CPU), a graphic processing unit (GPU), a main processing unit (MPU), and the like.

The processor 190 may include a humidity identifying module 191, an amount of moisture information obtaining module 192, and a drying complete identifying module 193. A plurality of modules according to the disclosure may be implemented as a software module or a hardware module, and based on the plurality of modules being implemented as a software module, the processor 190 may be configured to access the software module by loading the software module stored in the memory 120.

The humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to obtain the internal humidity of the dryer 100 through the sensor 110. The internal humidity may mean an absolute humidity value inside of the dryer 100. The humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to obtain the absolute humidity inside of the dryer 100 through the sensor 110. Alternatively, the humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to obtain the temperature and relative humidity inside of the dryer through the sensor 110. The humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to obtain the absolute humidity of the inner air of the dryer 100 by using the obtained temperature and relative humidity.

Based on the obtained internal humidity, the humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to identify the external humidity of the dryer 100. The humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to identify the change rate in the internal humidity, and identify the external humidity based on the identified change rate in the internal humidity. The change rate in the internal humidity may mean a rate of which the internal humidity changes per unit time according to a flow of time. The humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to identify a predicted point at which the change rate in the internal humidity becomes 0 based on the identified change rate in the internal humidity. For example, the humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to identify the predicted point at which the change rate in the internal humidity becomes 0 by using extrapolation.

The humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to identify whether the internal humidity passed a maximum humidity point. The maximum humidity point may be a point at which an internal humidity value which changes according to time has a local maximum value. The humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to identify whether the change rate in the internal humidity passed a minimum change rate point. The minimum change rate point may be a point at which a value of the change rate in the internal humidity which changes according to time has a local minimum value. Based on the internal humidity passing the maximum humidity point and the change rate in the internal humidity passing the minimum change rate point, the humidity identifying module 191 may be configured to identify the external humidity.

A detailed method of identifying the external humidity of the dryer 100 by the humidity identifying module 191 will be described through FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B.

The amount of moisture information obtaining module 192 may be configured to obtain amount of emitted moisture information of the drying object which is inserted inside the dryer 100. The amount of emitted moisture may mean absolute humidity information which is emitted per unit time from the drying object that is inserted inside the dryer 100. The amount of moisture information obtaining module 192 may be configured to identify a value of the internal humidity with respect to the external humidity as the amount of emitted moisture of the drying object. The amount of moisture information obtaining module 192 may be configured to identify a value in which the identified absolute humidity value of the external humidity is subtracted from the absolute humidity value of the internal humidity obtained through the sensor 110 as the amount of emitted moisture.

The amount of moisture information obtaining module 192 may be configured to identify a ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture. The maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture may mean the amount of emitted moisture in case the internal humidity is at the maximum humidity point. For example, the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture may be defined as in Equation 1, but this is merely one embodiment and may be defined based on various equations.

$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{ratio}\mathrm{value}=\frac{\mathrm{internal}\mathrm{humidity}-\mathrm{external}\mathrm{humidity}}{\begin{array}{c}\mathrm{internal}\mathrm{humidity}\mathrm{maximum}\mathrm{value}-\\ \mathrm{external}\mathrm{humidity}\end{array}}& \mathrm{Equation}1\end{array}$

The drying complete identifying module 193 may be configured to compare the information on the amount of emitted moisture with a threshold value, and identify whether drying is complete. The drying complete identifying module 193 may be configured to identify drying as being completed when the identified ratio value is less than or equal to the threshold value.

A detailed method of identifying whether the drying is complete by the drying complete identifying module 193 will be described through FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

The threshold value may be set differently according to a characteristic of the drying object. The characteristic of the drying object may include at least one from among the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture of the drying object and a time spent on drying. The time spent on drying may mean a time spent until the ratio value identified by the amount of moisture information obtaining module 192 reaches a point which is a pre-set value. Based on the characteristic of the drying object, the threshold value may be set. That is, the threshold value may be set differently according to a characteristic value of the drying object. The drying complete identifying module 193 may be configured to identify the drying as complete based on the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture being less than or equal to a pre-set threshold value.

A detailed method of setting the threshold value differently according to the characteristic of the drying object will be described in detail through FIG. 8. The drying complete identifying module 193 may be configured to identify a change pattern in the internal humidity. The drying complete identifying module 193 may be configured to predict the drying complete time point based on the identified change pattern in the internal humidity. The drying complete identifying module 193 may be configured to provide the predicted drying complete time point. For example, the drying complete identifying module 193 may be configured to control the display so that the predicted drying complete time point is displayed through the display 180 included in the dryer 100, but this is merely one embodiment, and the drying complete identifying module 193 may be configured to transmit information on the drying complete time point to the external device through the communication interface 170.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a controlling method of the dryer 300 according to an embodiment.

The dryer 100 may be configured to obtain the internal humidity of the dryer 100 (S310). The dryer 100 may be configured to obtain the internal humidity by using the sensor 110 included in the dryer 100.

The dryer 100 may be configured to identify whether the internal humidity passed the maximum humidity point (S320). The maximum humidity point may mean the point at which the internal humidity has a local maximum value.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a graph illustrating a change in the internal humidity corresponding to the drying progress time when the drying object is dried in the dryer 100 according to an embodiment is shown. Referring to FIG. 4B, a graph illustrating the change rate in the internal humidity corresponding to the drying progress time when the drying object is dried in the dryer 100 according to an embodiment is shown.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the internal humidity may increase as drying progresses and then decrease after passing a maximum humidity point 410. Referring to FIG. 4B, the maximum humidity point may be local maximum points 410 and 450 at which the change rate in the internal humidity is changed from (+) to (−).

Based on the internal humidity not passing the maximum humidity point (S320-N), the dryer 100 may be configured to identify again whether the internal humidity has passed the maximum humidity point (S320).

Based on the internal humidity passing the maximum humidity point (S320-Y), the dryer 100 may be configured to identify whether the change rate in the internal humidity passed the minimum change rate point (S330). The minimum change rate point may mean the point at which the change rate in the internal humidity has a local minimum value.

Referring to FIG. 4B, as drying is progressed, the change rate in the internal humidity may reduce and become closer to 0 after passing the minimum change rate point 460. The minimum change rate point may be the local minimum point 460 at which the change rate of the internal humidity change rate is changed from (−) to (+). The internal humidity at a point in which the change rate in the internal humidity is 0 may mean the external humidity.

Based on the change rate in the internal humidity not passing the minimum change rate point (S330-N), the dryer 100 may be configured to identify again whether the change rate in the internal humidity has passed the minimum change rate point (S320).

Based on the change rate in the internal humidity passing the minimum change rate point (S330-Y), the dryer 100 may be configured to identify the external humidity of the dryer based on the obtained change in the internal humidity (S340). The dryer 100 may be configured to identify, based on the change rate in the internal humidity, the point at which the change rate in the internal humidity is predicted to be 0, and identify the external humidity based on the identified point.

Referring to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the processor 190 may be configured to identify a predicted point 480 at which the change rate in the internal humidity becomes 0 based on the internal humidity change rate at specific points 420 and 470 where drying is in progress. For example, the processor 190 may be configured to identify a predicted point 480 at which the change rate in the internal humidity becomes 0 by using extrapolation. Extrapolation may mean a method of estimating new data beyond known data, and may include a linear extrapolation, a polynomial extrapolation, and a conic extrapolation. For example, based on the change rate of the internal humidity change rate being 1 at a specific point 470, a point at which an x-intercept of a linear expression or a quadratic expression passing the specific point 470 having a gradient of 1 may be the predicted point 480 at which the internal humidity change rate becomes 0.

An area 490 from the specific point 470 to the predicted point 480 at which the internal humidity change rate becomes 0 in the graph illustrated in FIG. 4B may mean a difference value 430 between the internal humidity and the external humidity measured from a specific point 420 in the graph illustrated in FIG. 4A. A value in which the difference value 430 between the internal humidity and the external humidity is subtracted from an internal humidity value obtained from the specific point 420 may mean an external humidity value. The processor 190 may be configured to identify the area 490 from the specific point 470 to the predicted point 480 at which the internal humidity change rate becomes 0, and identify the external humidity by subtracting the area 490 identified from the internal humidity which is obtained from the specific point 420.

The specific points 420 and 470 may mean one point or a plurality of points after the internal humidity passes a maximum internal humidity point 410, and the internal humidity change rate passes a minimum change rate point 460. The processor 190 may be configured to identify the external humidity by using the above-described method at least once after passing the maximum internal humidity point 410 and the minimum change rate point 460, and update the identified external humidity value.

The dryer 100 may be configured to obtain, based on a change in the internal humidity and external humidity, information on the amount of emitted moisture of the drying object inserted in the dryer 100 (S350). The amount of emitted moisture at a specific point may mean a value in which the external humidity is subtracted from the internal humidity obtained at a specific point. Information on the amount of emitted moisture may include a ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the moisture content emitted from the maximum internal humidity point may be α. The moisture content emitted from the maximum internal humidity point may mean the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture. At this time, α may mean the value in which the external humidity value is subtracted from the internal humidity value obtained at the maximum internal humidity point. The moisture content emitted from the specific point may be β. At this time, β may mean the value in which the external humidity value is subtracted from the internal humidity value obtained at a specific point. The ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture at the specific point with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture may be β/α.

Referring to FIG. 5B, based on three times of an amount of drying object inserted in FIG. 4A being inserted, the moisture content emitted from the maximum internal humidity point may be 3α. The moisture content emitted from the specific point may be 3β. The ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture at a specific point with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture may be β/α. The dryer 100 may be configured to identify whether the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture is less than or equal to a pre-set value (S360).

Based on the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture being greater than the pre-set value (S360-N), the dryer 100 may be configured to identify the external humidity of the dryer based on the obtained internal humidity.

Based on the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture being less than or equal to the pre-set value (S360-Y), the dryer 100 may be configured to set a threshold value based on the characteristic of the drying object inserted inside the dryer 100 (S370). The characteristic of the drying object may include at least one from among the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture of the drying object and the time spent on drying. The need to set a threshold value based on the characteristic of the drying object will be described through FIG. 6 to FIG. 7, and a detailed method of setting the threshold value based on the characteristic of the drying object will be described through FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 6, a graph 610 showing the internal humidity when a drying object with a material of fast drying rate is inserted in the dryer 100, a graph 620 showing the internal humidity when a drying object with a material of slow drying rate is inserted in the dryer 100, and a graph 630 showing the internal humidity when drying objects with mixed materials are inserted in the dryer 100 are illustrated.

Point A 611 may mean a point at which the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture is the same as 0.15 which is a first threshold value when the drying object with the material of fast drying rate is inserted in the dryer 100. At this time, the drying object with the material of fast drying rate may be in a state in which drying is complete.

Point B 621 may mean a point at which the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture is the same as 0.15 which is the first threshold value when the drying object with the material of slow drying rate is inserted in the dryer 100. At this time, the drying object with the material of slow drying rate may be in a state in which drying is complete.

Point C 631 may mean a point at which the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture is the same as 0.15 which is the first threshold value when the drying object with the material of fast drying rate and the drying object with the material of slow drying rate are inserted together in the dryer 100. At point C 631, the drying object with the material of fast drying rate may be in a state in which drying is complete, but the drying object with the material of slow drying rate may be in a state in which drying is incomplete.

Point D 641 may mean a point at which the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture is the same as 0.07 which is a second threshold value when the drying object with the material of fast drying rate and the drying object with the material of slow drying rate are inserted together in the dryer 100. At this time, the drying object with the material of fast drying rate and the drying object with the material of slow drying rate may both be in a state in which drying is complete.

Referring to FIG. 7, a first graph 710 showing the internal humidity according to a drying time when shirts of a small amount are inserted to the dryer 100, a second graph 720 showing the internal humidity according to the drying time when shirts of a large amount are inserted in the dryer 100, and a third graph 730 showing the internal humidity according to the drying time when a jean is inserted in the dryer 100 are illustrated.

Referring to the first graph and the third graph, even if the maximum internal humidity of the shirts of a small amount and jean are the same, the time spent until drying is complete may be shorter with respect to the shirts of a small amount.

Referring to the first graph and the second graph, even if the same shirt is inserted in the dryer 100, the maximum internal humidity and the time spent on drying may be different according to the inserted amount of drying object. The time spent on drying may mean the time spent until the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture reaches a pre-set value. The maximum internal humidity and the time spent on drying may be different according to the material and amount of the drying object.

At this time, based on identifying that the drying is complete when the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture is less than or equal to 0.15 which is the first threshold value, semi-drying may be carried out according to the material of the drying object. For example, based on the ratio value being 0.15 when a jean is inserted in the dryer 100, it may be in a semi-dried state.

Accordingly, when drying objects of various materials and various amounts are inserted in the dryer 100, there is a need to identify whether drying is complete by setting different threshold values.

Referring to FIG. 8, it may be verified that the time spent on drying and the maximum internal humidity are different according to a shirt type, a jean type, a towel type, and a mixed clothing type. The time spent on drying may mean the time spent until the ratio of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture reaches a pre-set value.

Referring to FIG. 8, even if the drying object of the same material is inserted, the maximum internal humidity and the time spent on drying may be different according to the amount of the drying object.

Accordingly, the processor 190 may be configured to identify whether drying is complete by setting a second threshold value by reflecting the characteristic of the drying object to the pre-set first threshold value. The processor 190 may be configured to set the second threshold value based on the characteristic value of the drying object which reflects the characteristic of the drying object. The characteristic value of the drying object may be defined as in Equation 2.

$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{characteristic}\mathrm{value}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{drying}\mathrm{object}=\frac{\mathrm{maxmimum}\mathrm{internal}\mathrm{humidity}-\mathrm{external}\mathrm{humidity}}{\begin{array}{c}\mathrm{time}\mathrm{spent}\mathrm{on}\mathrm{drying}-\\ \mathrm{minimum}\mathrm{drying}\mathrm{operation}\mathrm{time}\end{array}}& \mathrm{Equation}2\end{array}$

A minimum drying operation time in Equation 2 may mean a drying operation time when minimum clothing is placed in the dryer 100. The minimum drying operation time may be a pre-set value. The time spent on drying may mean the time spent until the ratio value identified by the processor 190 reaches a point which is the pre-set value (e.g., first threshold value). The processor 190 may be configured to set the threshold value (e.g., second threshold value) based on the characteristic value of the drying object. However, this is merely one embodiment, and the characteristic value of the drying object may be defined according to various equations using the characteristic of the drying object.

The processor 190 may be configured to set a new threshold value by using the threshold value and the characteristic value of the drying object stored in the memory 120. The processor 190 may be configured to newly set the threshold value based on the characteristic value of the drying object, and identify whether the drying is complete based on the set threshold value.

For example, the processor 190 may be configured to obtain a function value by inputting a drying characteristic value to a random function Y. At this time, the random function Y may be a function which is pre-stored in the memory 120. The random function Y may be a first linear function, but this merely an embodiment, and function Y may be implemented through various functions. The processor 190 may be configured to obtain a new second threshold value through calculations such as adding, multiplying, and the like of a random function value to the pre-stored first threshold value.

For example, the memory 120 may be configured to match and store the drying characteristic value with a compensation value. The processor 190 may be configured to obtain, based on the drying characteristic value being identified, the compensation value which is matched and stored with the identified drying characteristic value, and obtain the second threshold value through calculation of the obtained compensation value with the first threshold value.

At this time, a minimum value and a maximum value of the threshold value may be set. The minimum value and the maximum value of the threshold value may be values which are pre-stored in the memory 120. Based on a calculation result according to the above-described method being less than the minimum value, the second threshold value may be set as the minimum value. Based on the calculation result according to the above-described method being greater than the maximum value, the second threshold value may be set as the maximum value. By setting the minimum value and the maximum value of the threshold value, the problem of the drying object which is inserted in the dryer 100 being over-dried or semi-dried may be prevented.

The dryer 100 may be configured to identify whether the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture is less than or equal to the threshold value (S380).

Based on the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture being greater than the threshold value (S380-N), the dryer 100 may be configured to identify the external humidity of the dryer 100 based on the obtained internal humidity (S340).

Based on the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture being less than or equal to the threshold value (S380-Y), the dryer 100 may be configured to identify as the drying being complete.

The dryer 100 may be configured to identify, by identifying whether drying is complete based on the ratio value, an amount of drying objects inserted in the dryer 100 and an optimum drying point even if water-content is changed.

Referring to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the processor 190 may be configured to identify the ratio value (e.g., (β/α) of the amount of emitted moisture at a specific point with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture, and identify the specific point as the point at which the drying is complete based on the identified ratio value (e.g., β/α) being less than or equal to the threshold value. For example, the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture may be 10[g/m³], and the amount of emitted moisture at the specific point may be 1.5[g/m³]. At this time, the processor 190 may be configured to identify the ratio value at the specific point as 0.15, and the threshold value stored in the memory 120 may be 0.15. The processor 190 may be configured to identify the specific point as the point at which the drying is complete because the ratio value identified at the specific point is less than or equal to the threshold value.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a controlling method of the dryer 100 according to an embodiment.

The dryer 100 may be configured to obtain the internal humidity of the dryer 100 by using the sensor 110 (S910).

The dryer 100 may be configured to identify the external humidity of the dryer based on the obtained internal humidity (S920). The dryer 100 may be configured to identify a change rate in the internal humidity, and identify the external humidity based on the identified change rate. The dryer 100 may be configured to identify whether the internal humidity passed the maximum humidity point, and identify whether the change rate in the internal humidity passed the minimum change rate point. Based on identifying that the internal humidity passed the maximum humidity point and the change rate in the internal humidity passed the minimum change rate point, the dryer 100 may be configured to identify the change rate in the internal humidity.

Based on the change in the internal humidity and external humidity, the dryer 100 may be configured to obtain information on the amount of emitted moisture of the drying object which is inserted inside the dryer 100 (S930). The dryer 100 may be configured to identify the value in which the external humidity value is subtracted from the internal humidity value obtained at a specific point as the amount of emitted moisture of the drying object at a specific point. The dryer 100 may be configured to identify the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture.

The dryer 100 may be configured to identify whether drying is complete by comparing the information on the amount of emitted moisture with the threshold value (S940). The dryer 100 may be configured to identify the drying as complete based on the ratio value of the amount of emitted moisture with respect to the maximum value of the amount of emitted moisture being less than or equal to the threshold value.

The terms “part” or “module” used in the disclosure may include a unit configured as a hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as, for example, and without limitation, logic, logic blocks, components, circuits, or the like. “Part” or “module” may be a component integrally formed or a minimum unit or a part of the component performing one or more functions. For example, a module may be configured as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

The various embodiments may be implemented with software including instructions stored in a machine-readable storage media (e.g., computer). The machine may call an instruction stored in the storage medium, and as a device capable of operating according to the called instruction, may include the dryer 100 according to the above-mentioned embodiments. Based on the instruction being executed by the processor, the processor may directly or using other elements under the control of the processor perform a function corresponding to the instruction. The instruction may include a code generated by a compiler or executed by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Herein, ‘non-transitory’ merely means that the storage medium is tangible and does not include a signal, and the term does not differentiate data being semi-permanently stored or being temporarily stored in the storage medium.

According to an embodiment, a method according to the various embodiments may be provided included a computer program product. The computer program product may be exchanged between a seller and a purchaser as a commodity. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or distributed online through an application store (e.g., PLAYSTORE™). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product (e.g., downloadable app) may be at least stored temporarily in a storage medium such as a server of a manufacturer, a server of an application store, or a memory of a relay server, or temporarily generated.

Each of the elements (e.g., a module or a program) according to various embodiments may be comprised as a single entity or a plurality of entities, and some sub-elements of the abovementioned sub-elements may be omitted, or different sub-elements may be further included in the various embodiments. Alternatively or additionally, some elements (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into one entity to perform the same or similar functions performed by the respective elements prior to integration. Operations performed by a module, a program, or another element, in accordance with the various embodiments, may be performed sequentially, in a parallel, repetitively, or in a heuristic manner, or at least some operations may be performed in a different order, omitted or a different operation may be added.

Claims

1. A dryer, comprising: at least one sensor to sense an internal humidity of the dryer;a memory configured to store at least one instruction; anda processor connected with the memory and configured to control the dryer,wherein the processor is configured to: obtain, based on executing the at least one instruction, the internal humidity of the dryer through the at least one sensor;identify an external humidity of the dryer based on the obtained internal humidity;obtain, based on a change in the internal humidity and a change in the external humidity, information on an amount of moisture of an object placed in the dryer to be dried; andidentify whether a drying operation is complete by comparing the information on the amount of moisture of the object with a threshold value.

2. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to identify a change rate in the internal humidity, and identify the external humidity based on the identified change rate.

3. The dryer of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to: identify whether the internal humidity passed a maximum humidity point;identify whether the change rate in the internal humidity passed a minimum change rate point;identify, based on identifying that the internal humidity passed the maximum humidity point and the change rate in the internal humidity passed the minimum change rate point, the change rate in the internal humidity;identify, based on the identified change rate in the internal humidity, a predicted point at which the change rate in the internal humidity becomes 0;identify a predicted internal humidity at a point at which the predicted change rate in the internal humidity becomes 0; andidentify the predicted internal humidity as the external humidity.

4. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: identify a value of the internal humidity compared to the external humidity as the amount of moisture of the object;identify a ratio value of the identified amount of moisture of the object with respect to a maximum value of the amount of moisture of the object; andidentify the drying operation as complete based on the ratio value being less than or equal to the threshold value.

5. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the threshold value is set differently according to a characteristic of the object.

6. The dryer of claim 5, wherein the characteristic of the object comprises at least one from among a maximum value of the amount of moisture of the object and a time spent on drying.

7. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: identify a change pattern in the internal humidity;predict a drying complete time point based on the identified change pattern; andprovide the predicted drying complete time point.

8. A controlling method of a dryer, the method comprising: obtaining an internal humidity of the dryer from at least one sensor;identifying an external humidity of the dryer based on the obtained internal humidity;obtaining, based on a change in the internal humidity and a change in the external humidity, information on an amount of moisture of an object placed in the dryer to be dried; andidentifying whether a drying operation is complete by comparing the information on the amount of moisture of the object with a threshold value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifying the external humidity comprises identifying a change rate in the internal humidity, and identifying the external humidity based on the identified change rate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the identifying the external humidity comprises: identifying whether the internal humidity passed a maximum humidity point;identifying whether a change rate in the internal humidity passed a minimum change rate point;identifying, based on identifying that the internal humidity passed the maximum humidity point and the change rate in the internal humidity passed the minimum change rate point, the change rate in the internal humidity;identifying, based on the identified change rate in the internal humidity, a predicted point at which the change rate in the internal humidity becomes 0;identifying a predicted internal humidity at a point at which a change rate in the predicted internal humidity becomes 0; andidentifying the predicted internal humidity as the external humidity.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the obtaining the information on the amount of moisture of the object comprises: identifying a value of the internal humidity compared to the external humidity as the amount of moisture of the object; andidentifying a ratio value of the identified amount of moisture of the object with respect to a maximum value of the amount of moisture of the object, andwherein the identifying whether drying is complete comprises identifying drying as complete based on the ratio value being less than or equal to the threshold value.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the threshold value is set differently according to a characteristic of the object.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristic of the object comprises at least one from among a maximum value of an amount of moisture of the object and a time spent on drying.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling method further comprises: identifying a change pattern in the internal humidity;predicting a drying complete time point based on the identified change pattern; andproviding the predicted drying complete time point.

15. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium comprising a program for executing a controlling method of a dryer, the controlling method comprising: obtaining an internal humidity of the dryer from at least one sensor;identifying an external humidity of the dryer based on the obtained internal humidity;obtaining, based on a change in the internal humidity and a change in the external humidity, information on an amount of moisture of an object placed in the dryer to be dried; andidentifying whether a drying operation is complete by comparing the information on the amount of moisture emitted from the object with a threshold value.