LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus, and more particularly, relates to a laundry treating apparatus for treating laundry.
BACKGROUND

A laundry treating apparatus is an apparatus that may perform various treatment courses to treat laundry, such as a washing course that puts clothes, bedding, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as laundry) into a drum and removes contaminants from the laundry, a drying course to remove moisture present in the laundry, and the like.

The laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet that forms an outer appearance thereof, and may include the drum disposed inside the cabinet to accommodate the laundry therein. Additionally, when water is used in the treatment course of the laundry, a tub may be disposed inside the cabinet, and the drum may be installed inside the tub.

The laundry treating apparatuses may be categorized into a top loading type and a front loading type based on a scheme of putting the laundry into the drum. The top loading type may put the laundry via a top surface of the cabinet, and the front loading type may put the laundry via a front surface of the cabinet.

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2014-0023986 discloses a laundry treating apparatus including a display and a search unit for providing a plurality of treatment courses to a user.

The user may manipulate the laundry treating apparatus and perform the treatment process of the laundry using the display, the search unit, and the like.

However, both the display and the search unit are disposed on the laundry treating apparatus, and accordingly, there is a limitation that the user must directly approach the laundry treating apparatus to use the laundry treating apparatus.

The user must move to a required location and perform an activity at a set time, and therefore, there may be inconvenience for the user to be located near the laundry treating apparatus and directly manipulate the laundry treating apparatus.

For example, the user may be located at a place other than a place where the laundry treating apparatus is located in a residential space and perform activities other than the laundry treatment. Furthermore, when the user performs the activities outside of the residential space, there may be restrictions on the use of the laundry treating apparatus.

Accordingly, allowing the user to conveniently manipulate the laundry treating apparatus even when the user is not directly located in front of the laundry treating apparatus, and further allowing the user to efficiently perform settings or the like for the laundry treating apparatus and perform an effective laundry treatment process are important tasks in the present technical field.

SUMMARY
Technical Problem

Embodiments of the present disclosure are to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may be conveniently manipulated by a user.

Additionally, embodiments of the present disclosure are to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may be effectively manipulated by a user even when separated from the user.

Additionally, embodiments of the present disclosure are to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may improve efficiency of remote manipulation by a user.

Technical Solutions

A laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a remote control function by a user. In other words, when a remote control mode is performed, a controller may set and perform a treatment course for treating laundry based on a user's command input via a terminal.

Additionally, an embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a remote control maintenance mode. When the remote control maintenance mode is applied, the controller may maintain a power-on state even after completion of the treatment course, allowing additional manipulation of the user.

When applying the remote control mode, the remote control maintenance mode may be released by default. The remote control maintenance mode may be applied when the user requests the same via the terminal or the like, thereby increasing stability and efficiency of the remote control.

Such laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet, a drum, and a controller. The drum is rotatably disposed inside the cabinet and accommodates the laundry therein.

The controller is disposed in the cabinet and performs a treatment course of the laundry accommodated in the drum. The controller may perform a remote control mode of performing the treatment course by receiving a command via a terminal of a user, and the controller may perform a remote control maintenance mode of maintaining the remote control mode in a power-on state even after the treatment course ends in the remote control mode.

The remote control mode may be applied or released via the terminal or an input device disposed on the cabinet, wherein the command of the user is input via the input device. The controller may automatically perform the remote control mode when performing the treatment course.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may include an input device disposed on the cabinet and including a pause button. The controller may release the remote control mode when the pause button is pressed while performing the treatment course, and maintain the remote control mode when a pause command is input via the terminal.

The remote control maintenance mode may be applied or released via the terminal or an input device disposed on the cabinet, wherein the command of the user is input via the input device. The controller may set the remote control maintenance mode to be released with the performing of the remote control mode.

The cabinet may include a laundry inlet in communication with the inside of the drum, a laundry door that opens and closes the laundry inlet, and a door lock that keeps the laundry door closed, and in the remote control maintenance mode, the controller may control the door lock to keep the laundry door closed after the treatment course ends.

An input device may include a power button, and the remote control maintenance mode may be released when the power button is pressed after the treatment course ends.

The input device may include a plurality of buttons including the power button, and in in the remote control maintenance mode, the plurality of buttons may be deactivated except for the power button after the treatment course ends.

The cabinet may be equipped with an output device to output a screen to provide information to the user, and in the remote control maintenance mode, the output device may output a remote control maintenance informing screen informing the user that the remote control mode is maintained after the treatment course ends.

The remote control maintenance informing screen may display conditions for releasing the remote control maintenance mode. The cabinet may be equipped with an output device to provide information to the user, and when a preset time has elapsed after the treatment course ends, the controller may notify the user via the output device or the terminal that the remote control maintenance mode is being performed.

Advantageous Effects

The embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus that may be conveniently manipulated by the user.

Additionally, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus that may be effectively manipulated by the user even when separated from the user.

Additionally, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus that may improve the efficiency of the remote manipulation by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a manipulation unit disposed on a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior of a laundry treating apparatus including a tub according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior of a laundry treating apparatus with a tub omitted according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a communication relationship of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an add-on setting screen for setting a remote control mode in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually showing a state in which power is maintained during a remote control maintenance mode in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a process of setting a remote control mode in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an add-on setting screen for setting a remote control maintenance mode in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a course selection screen and a course performance screen in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a remote control maintenance informing screen in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail such that those skilled in the art may easily practice them.

However, the present disclosure may be implemented in several different forms and may not be limited to the embodiments described herein. Further, to clearly illustrate the present disclosure in the drawings, parts unrelated to the description are omitted, and similar drawing numerals are assigned to similar parts throughout the present document.

In the present document, redundant descriptions of the same components are omitted.

Further, in the present document, when a component is referred to as being ‘connected’ to another component, it should be understood that the components may be directly connected to each other, but there may be another component therebetween. On the other hand, in the present document, when a component is referred to as being ‘directly connected’ to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component therebetween.

Additionally, the terms used herein are merely used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

Further, as used herein, singular expressions may include plural expressions, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In addition, in the present document, it should be understood that terms such as ‘include’ or ‘have’ are only intended to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described herein, and do not preclude the presence or addition of other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Further, in the present document, the term ‘and/or’ includes a combination of a plurality of listed items or any of the plurality of listed items. As used herein, ‘A or B’ may include ‘A’, ‘B’, or ‘both A and B’.

FIG. 1 shows a laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 10. The cabinet 10 forms an outer appearance of the laundry treating apparatus 1, and defines a space in which a drum 30, which will be described later, or the like is accommodated therein.

The cabinet 10 may have various shapes as needed, such as a polygonal pillar or a circular pillar. When the cabinet 10 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet 10 may be formed by coupling a plurality of panels to each other or by integrally molding and bending the plurality of panels.

When the cabinet 10 includes the plurality of panels, the plurality of panels may include a front panel 11, a rear panel, a top panel 12, a bottom panel 13, and a pair of side panels.

A laundry inlet 18 to allow laundry to be introduced into the cabinet 10 may be defined in the cabinet 10. The laundry inlet 18 may be defined in one surface of the cabinet 10 and may serve as an entrance for a user to insert the laundry into the cabinet 10.

The laundry inlet 18 may be defined in the front panel 11 or the top panel 12 of the cabinet 10. That is, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the laundry inlet 18 may be defined in the front panel 11 and thus a front loading type may be employed, or the laundry inlet 18 may be defined in the top panel 12 and thus a top loading type may be employed.

FIG. 1 shows the front loading-type laundry treating apparatus 1 in which the laundry inlet 18 is defined in the front panel 11 of the cabinet 10, but the top loading-type may be employed when necessary.

The cabinet 10 may include a laundry door 19 for opening and closing the laundry inlet 18. The laundry door 19 may be disposed on the cabinet 10 in various ways to open and close the laundry inlet 18. FIG. 1 shows that the laundry door 19 is hinged to the cabinet 10 such that one side thereof is pivotable according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The laundry door 19 may be pivoted around a hinge to determine the opening and closing of the laundry inlet 18. For example, the laundry door 19 may open the laundry inlet 18 by pivoting around the hinge to be away from the cabinet 10, and close the laundry inlet 18 by pivoting around the hinge to come into close contact with the cabinet 10.

The cabinet 10 may include a door lock 17 for locking the laundry door 19. The door lock may secure the laundry door 19 such that the state in which the laundry door 19 closes the laundry inlet 18 is maintained.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may include a controller 90, and the controller 90 may be connected in a signal manner to the door lock 17 to control an operating state of the door lock 17, thereby controlling the closed state of the laundry door 19.

For example, the door lock 17 may be controlled by the controller 90 to secure the laundry door 19 in the locked state such the closed state of the laundry door 19 does not change to the open state. When the door lock 17 is unlocked, the laundry door 19 may be automatically pivoted to open the laundry inlet 18, or may be freely manipulated to the open state by the user.

The cabinet 10 may have a manipulation unit 100, and the manipulation unit 100 may include an input device 110 and an output device 130. FIG. 1 shows the manipulation unit 100 disposed at an upper side of the front panel 11, but a location, a shape, the number, and the like of the manipulation unit 100 may vary depending on need.

The manipulation unit 100 may be a means of exchanging signals or information between the user and the laundry treating apparatus 1, for example, the controller 90. A detailed description of the manipulation unit 100 will be made later.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a detergent supplier 40, the drum 30, a tub 20, and the like disposed inside the cabinet 10.

The tub 20 may be disposed inside the cabinet 10 and may accommodate water therein. The tub 20 may be constructed in the laundry treating apparatus 1 to use a large amount of water for treating the laundry, such as a washing course, a rinsing course, and the like.

In other words, when the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is constructed to perform a treatment course of the laundry using washing water, such as the washing course, the tub 20 may be disposed inside the cabinet 10 and the drum 30 may be installed inside the tub 20.

However, when the laundry treating apparatus 1 is constructed to perform only a treatment course that does not require the use of washing water, such as a drying course to remove moisture from the laundry, unlike the washing course, the tub 20 may be omitted. In other words, the laundry treating apparatus I may not have the tub 20 but only have the drum 30.

The drum 30 may be disposed inside the cabinet 10 and may accommodate the laundry therein. That is, the laundry that is introduced into the cabinet 10 via the laundry inlet 18 may be accommodated inside the drum 30 and undergo various treatment courses. A detailed description of the tub 20 and the drum 30 will be made later.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may include the detergent supplier 40. The detergent supplier 40 may provide detergent, which is to create and enhance a washing effect in the washing course or the like to remove contaminants from the laundry, into the drum 30.

The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be in communication with a user's terminal 95. The user's terminal 95 may refer to a device through which the user may input or receive information while away from the laundry treating apparatus 1. For example, a mobile phone, a computer, and the like that the user may carry may correspond to the terminal 95.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may establish the communication with the terminal 95 via the controller 90, and the information may be transmitted and received. A detailed description of the communication with the terminal 95 or the like will be made later.

FIG. 2 shows the manipulation unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The manipulation unit 100 may include the input device 110 that generates an input signal when manipulated by the user, and the output device 130 that provides various information to the user in response to an output signal of the controller 90.

The manipulation unit 100 may include the input device 110 and/or the output device 130, and the input device 110 and the output device 130 may be located together or separated from each other. The input device 110 and the output device 130 may respectively include a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices, and may be disposed at various locations of the cabinet 10.

FIG. 2 shows the manipulation unit 100 in which the input device 110 and the output device 130 are disposed together and constructed as one control panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 2, the output device 130 may include a display 134 that outputs a screen to provide visual information to the user.

Specifically, the output device 130 may include a screen peripheral portion 132 that surrounds the display 134 and the display 134 located on the screen peripheral portion 132, and may be connected to the controller 90 and output the screen providing necessary information to the user via the display 134. Additionally, the output device 130 may further include a speaker for providing an auditory signal, such as various notification sounds, to the user.

The input device 110 may be manipulated by the user to generate various input signals. For example, the input device 110 may include components such as buttons that are physically manipulated by the user, touch-based components that generate signals by being in contact with a user's hand or the like, and microphones that receive a voice signal or the like from the user.

In the present disclosure, the buttons include a physical button that is manipulated by the user to generate a physical change, and a touch button that generates an electrical signal as the user's hand or the like comes into contact therewith. In other words, in the present disclosure, buttons may be formed with various types and shapes depending on need.

Referring to FIG. 2, the input device 110 may include a power button 111. When the power button 111 is pressed, power may be applied to various components disposed in the laundry treating apparatus 1.

The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be connected to an external power source and maintain a standby state or a sleep state in which power is not applied to remaining components except for some components, and then when the power button 111 is manipulated, may be switched to a power-on state or a wake-up state in which preparation to perform the treatment course of the laundry is made as the power is also applied to the remaining components.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may include a power standby unit that receives the power from the external power source at all times regardless of the standby state and the power-on state, and the power standby unit may allow the power application to other components such as the as controller 90 when the power button 111 is pressed in the sleep state.

In one example, the input device 110 may include a display button 113. The display button 113 may be disposed in the screen peripheral portion 132 of the output device 130 or may be disposed around the same. Additionally, the display button 113 may be replaced with a scheme of touching the display 134.

A command based on screen information output from the display 134 may be input via the display button 113. For example, the user may manipulate the display button 113 to select a specific area or one item of the screen output on the display 134.

Additionally, the input device 110 may include a movement button. The movement button may be disposed on or around the screen peripheral portion 132. The movement button may be replaced with a jog disposed on the screen peripheral portion 132 or the like and rotated, or may be replaced with the scheme of touching the display 134.

The user may change an object to be selected among a plurality of items on the screen output on the display 134 by manipulating the movement button.

The input device 110 may include a perform button 112. The perform button 112 may also be defined as a pause button. An embodiment of the present disclosure may perform the various treatment courses for treating the laundry accommodated inside the drum 30 via control of the controller 90 or the like. The user may manipulate the perform button 112 to perform or pause the treatment course.

In one example, the input device 110 may include a pairing control button 114. The laundry treating apparatus I according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may activate a pairing mode in which communication with another external device, such as an external device 2, is allowed to enable information exchange therebetween, and may activate a pairing control mode to directly control the external device 2 in the pairing mode.

In other words, when the pairing control mode is activated, the user may use the input device 110 or the like disposed on the cabinet 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure to control operation of the external device 2 paired with the laundry treating apparatus I according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In other words, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 90 may activate a pairing mode in which it is permitted to be in communication with the external device 2 located outside the cabinet 10 and exchanges information therewith. The controller 90 may activate the pairing mode while being in communication with the further controller 90 of the external device 2.

In the pairing mode, when the user presses the pairing control button 114 of the input device 110, the controller 90 may activate the pairing control mode of directly transmitting a command to the further controller 90 of the external device 2 via the input device 110. In one example, the pairing control may also be performed by the further controller 90 of the external device 2.

In one example, the input device 110 may include an option setting unit 115. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the user may adjust setting values for a plurality of options by manipulating the option setting unit 115.

Specifically, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 90 may be in a state in which the various treatment courses for treating the laundry are preset.

For example, the plurality of treatment courses may include the washing course to remove the contaminants from the laundry, the rinsing course to rinse the laundry, a dehydration course to remove moisture from the laundry via a physical scheme such as a centrifugal force, the drying course to remove moisture from the laundry via a phase change such as evaporation of water.

In one example, each of the plurality of treatment courses may include a plurality of adjustable options. Each of the plurality of options may have a plurality of option values that the user may select, and one of the plurality of option values may be applied as a setting value for the corresponding option.

The user may manipulate the option setting unit 115 to change setting values of options for which change of the setting value is permitted. That is, each option may be set to have an initial setting value before being changed by the user, and the user may change a setting value of a specific option from the initial setting value to another option value via the option setting unit 115.

The option setting unit 115 may include a plurality of buttons for changing each option, and may be controlled by the controller 90 such that manipulation is permitted for options that may be changed by the user in a currently selected treatment course, and signal generation is inhibited for options that the user is not able to change.

For example, the controller 90 may reflect the change in the option that may be changed by the user for the currently selected treatment course, but may ignore the corresponding command when the change of the option that the user is not able to change is input.

The input device 110 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include various buttons for use convenience of the user in addition to the plurality of buttons mentioned above.

FIG. 3 shows the laundry treating apparatus 1 including the tub 20 and the detergent supplier 40 in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the washing course of the like of the laundry is performed in the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the laundry treating apparatus I may include the tub 20, the detergent supplier 40, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 3, the tub 20 may be disposed inside the cabinet 10, may define an internal space therein to accommodate water, and may have various shapes. A tub inlet 22 facing the laundry inlet 18 of the cabinet 10 may be defined in one surface of the tub 20.

For example, the tub 20 may have a cylindrical shape with the space defined therein, and the tub inlet 22 may be defined in a front surface of the tub 20 facing the laundry inlet 18. The laundry input via the laundry inlet 18 may be put into the tub 20 via the tub inlet 22.

The drum 30 may be disposed inside the tub 20. The drum 30 may have various shapes with a space defined therein. The drum 30 may be rotatable by a driver 35.

The driver 35 may be disposed outside the tub 20, and the drum 30 may have a rotation shaft connected to a rear surface thereof. The driver 35 may be directly connected to the rotation shaft or indirectly connected thereto via a belt or the like.

The drum 30 may be rotatably disposed inside the tub 20, and may have a drum inlet 32 facing the tub inlet 22 in one surface thereof. That is, the inside of the drum 30 may be in communication with the outside via the drum inlet 32, the tub inlet 22, and the laundry inlet 18.

Accordingly, the laundry input by the user via the laundry inlet 18 may be accommodated inside the drum 30 after passing through the laundry inlet 18, the tub inlet 22, and the drum inlet 32. The laundry inlet 18, the tub inlet 22, and the drum inlet 32 may be aligned in a direction parallel to the rotation shaft of the drum 30.

The drum 30 may have a circular cross-section to facilitate rotation around the rotation shaft. For example, the drum 30 may be formed in a cylindrical shape. Additionally, a plurality of through-holes may be defined in a circumferential surface of the drum 30.

The drum 30 installed inside the tub 20 that accommodates water therein may allow water inside the tub 20 to flow into the drum 30 via the through-holes, thereby providing water to the laundry.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may include a water supplier 60. The water supplier 60 may be connected to an external water source disposed outside the cabinet 10, such as an urban water source, and supply water into the cabinet 10.

The water supplier 60 may include a water supply valve to regulate a flow of water, and water introduced from outside the cabinet 10 may flow along a water supply pipe 62 and be directly supplied into the tub 20 or may be supplied to the detergent supplier 40.

The detergent supplier 40 may store detergent therein, and may supply the detergent into the tub 20 or the drum 30. When the water supply pipe 62 is connected to the detergent supplier 40, the detergent supplier 40 may supply water supplied via the water supply pipe 62 and the detergent together into the tub 20.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may include a drainage 70. The controller 90 may perform a drain process by controlling the drainage 70 to discharge water inside the tub 20 to the outside during the washing course or the like.

The drainage 70 may include a drain pipe that is connected to the tub 20 and is for allowing water inside the tub 20 to flow to the outside, may include a drain valve for regulating a flow of water in the drain pipe, and may include a drain pump to generate the flow of water in the drain pipe.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may include the controller 90. The controller 90 may be connected in a signal manner to the various components that consume the power and may control the operation of the respective components. The controller 90 may be divided into a plurality of pieces or include various sub-divided components as needed.

For example, the controller 90 may functionally include a communication unit for communication with the outside or other components, storage for storing information, and an operation unit for information processing. Additionally, the controller 90 may include a sub-controller 90 equipped for each component, and a main controller 90 that is connected in a signal manner to the sub-controller 90 and is responsible for controlling the sub-controller 90.

At least some of the sub-divided components of the controller 90, which are differentiated by function or configuration as described above, may be spatially and functionally integrated with each other as needed. Additionally, at least some of the sub-divided components may be disposed to be spatially separated from each other.

FIG. 4 shows a form in which the tub 20 and the detergent supplier 40 are omitted and the drying course of the laundry is able to be performed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the form in which the tub 20 is omitted, the drum 30 may be rotatably disposed inside the cabinet 10. The driver 35 may be located in one side of the cabinet 10 and may be connected to the drum 30 itself or the rotation shaft of the drum 30 to provide the rotational force to the drum 30.

In one example, a heater 50 to provide high-temperature air to the laundry inside the drum 30 may be disposed inside the cabinet 10. The heater 50 may be installed on a base 14 that is located on the bottom panel 13 and disposed inside the cabinet 10.

FIG. 4 shows the heater 50 disposed outside the drum 30 to provide dehumidified and heated air, and into which air that has passed through the inside of the drum 30 is re-introduced.

Referring to FIG. 4, the heater 50 may include an air passage 51 in communication with the inside of the drum 30. Air containing water vapor generated by evaporation of moisture present in the laundry may exist inside the drum 30, and air inside the drum 30 may be discharged from the drum 30 and flow into the air passage 51. For example, air discharged from the inside of the drum 30 to the outside of the drum 30 via the drum inlet 32 may flow into the air passage 51 and flow along the air passage 51.

In one example, the heater 50 may include a dehumidifying unit 52. The dehumidifying unit 52 may come into contact with air flowing along the air passage 51 to condense water vapor in air and remove water vapor from air. Accordingly, air flowing along the air passage 51 may be dehumidified such that water vapor is greatly reduced as it passes through the dehumidifying unit 52.

The heater 50 may include a temperature increasing unit 53. The temperature increasing unit 53 may be in direct contact with air flowing along the air passage 51 or may be in thermal contact with air to heat air. Air flowing along the air passage 51 may be dried at a high temperature while passing through the dehumidifying unit 52 and the temperature increasing unit 53.

The heater 50 may include a fluid system forming the dehumidifying unit 52 and the temperature increasing unit 53. The fluid system may include a compressor, a condenser, a diffusion valve, and an expander, the dehumidifying unit 52 may correspond to the expander, and the temperature increasing unit 53 may correspond to the condenser.

However, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater 50 is not limited to including the fluid system, and the dehumidifying unit 52 and the temperature increasing unit 53 may be in various schemes.

The heater 50 may include an air fan 54. The air fan 54 may be located in a space in communication with the air passage 51, for example, on the air passage 51 to generate a flow of air. By operating the air fan 54, air inside the drum 30 may flow and circulate through the air passage 51.

That is, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater 50 dehumidifies and heats air flowing along the air passage 51 in communication with the inside of the drum 30 and supplies air back to the inside of the drum 30, thereby providing high-temperature dry air into the drum 30 and removing moisture contained in the laundry.

However, the heater 50 in FIG. 4 is only an example of the heater 50 for performing the drying course. In the present disclosure, a scheme or a type of the heater 50 for providing high-temperature air to the laundry is not necessarily limited as above.

For example, the heater 50 may be of an exhaust type that allows air from outside the cabinet 10 to be introduced and flow into the drum 30, and discharges air inside the drum 30 to the outside. Additionally, the heater 50 may also be of a static type that heats and dehumidifies air inside the drum 30 while not causing the flow of air.

In addition, the laundry treating apparatus I shown in FIG. 3 and the laundry treating apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 4 are shown separately for convenience of description, and it goes without saying that the respective components cannot coexist with each other.

For example, an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the water supplier 60, the tub 20, the detergent supplier 40, and the like to perform the washing course of the laundry, and at the same time, include the heater 50 of various types to perform the drying course of the laundry.

FIG. 5 schematically shows various communication environments that may be established by the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may activate the pairing mode with the at least one external device 2. For example, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may activate the pairing mode via mutual communication with the external device 2 disposed outside the cabinet 10.

That is, the controller 90 may activate the pairing mode via the communication with the further controller 90 of the external device 2. The controller 90 may activate the pairing mode while exchanging the information with the further controller 90 or the further communication unit of the external device 2 via the communication unit.

FIG. 5 shows a connection to the two external devices 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, but the number of external devices 2 that may be connected to the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may vary.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the external device 2 may perform the external treatment course to treat the laundry. For example, the external device 2 may include a drum 30 to accommodate the laundry therein. The external device 2 may be equipped with the further controller 90 for controlling various devices disposed in the external device 2, separately from the controller 90 of the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Additionally, the external device 2 may include a further output device 130 that outputs a screen to provide information related to an operation situation, a laundry treatment state, or the like controlled by the further controller 90.

The laundry treating apparatus I according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may perform the washing course of the laundry, and the external device 2 may perform the drying course of the laundry.

The opposite case may also be possible, and both the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and the external device 2 may perform the laundry washing course or the drying course.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication scheme by which the controller 90 and the external device 2 exchange the information may vary. For example, controller 90 may be in direct communication with the further communication unit of the external device 2 via the communication unit in a scheme, such as Bluetooth.

In addition, the controller 90 or the communication unit may be equipped separately from the laundry treating apparatus I according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and the external device 2, and may exchange the information via an external communication medium 96 that provides signals for communication.

For example, the external communication medium 96 may generate a Wi-Fi signal, the controller 90 may exchange information with the external communication medium 96 based on the Wi-Fi signal, and the further controller 90, which is disposed in the external device 2 and is distinct from the controller 90 of the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, may receive a signal transmitted from the controller 90 via the information exchange with the external communication medium 96.

When the controller 90 directly generates the signal as above and when the external communication medium 96 is used as the signal generation means, a collection path of the information transmitted externally from the controller 90 or the information received by the controller 90 may also vary.

For example, even when the controller 90 directly transmits or receives the signal, the controller 90 may directly transmit the signal to the further controller 90 of the external device 2, or a scheme of transmitting the signal to the external server 97 such that the further controller 90 receives the signal from the server 97 may be used.

Even when the controller 90 uses the external communication medium 96, the information transmitted from the controller 90 to the external communication medium 96 may be directly transmitted to the external device 2, or the information transmitted to the external communication medium 96 may be transmitted to the server 97 and then the further controller 90 of the external device 2 may receive the information from the server 97.

In one example, a relationship between a sender and a receiver may be changed between the controller 90 disposed in the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and the further controller 3 of the external device 2.

In one example, the laundry treating apparatus I according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may also be permitted to be in communication with the user's terminal 95 described above. For example, the controller 90 may provide information related to the current operating state to the user via the terminal 95, and a remote control mode controlled based on a command transmitted from the terminal 95 may be activated via the information exchange with the terminal 95.

Communication or a scheme of exchanging information between the controller 90 and the terminal 95 may be the same as the communication or the scheme of exchanging the information between the controller 90 and the further controller 90 described above. For example, the controller 90 may exchange the information directly with the terminal 95 or may exchange the information via the external communication medium 96 and/or the server 97.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an add-on setting screen P500 output from the output device 130 or the terminal 95 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. (a) in FIG. 6 shows the add-on setting screen P500 output from the output device 130, and (b) in FIG. 6 shows the add-on setting screen P500 output from the terminal 95.

Referring to FIG. 6, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may support a remote control mode of the user. That is, the controller 90 may set and perform the treatment course of the laundry by receiving a command from the user distant from the laundry treating apparatus 1 via the remote control mode.

In the remote control mode, the controller 90 may be permitted to be in communication with the user's terminal 95 or the like, and may receive the command of the user from the terminal 95 or the like. For example, the user's terminal 95 may be registered in advance on the laundry treating apparatus 1 and be permitted to be in communication, and when the remote control mode is applied, the terminal 95 or the like may be in communication with the controller 90 via the external communication medium 96 or directly to transmit the input signal generated from the terminal 95 to the controller 90.

In the remote control mode, the user may select one of the plurality of treatment courses for treating the laundry, set an option for one treatment course, or control the controller 90 to perform one treatment course, using the terminal 95 or the like.

Accordingly, the user may conveniently use the laundry treating apparatus 1 even when the user is not located adjacent to the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In one example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the output device 130 and/or the terminal 95 may output a settings list including a remote control setting item C200 for setting the remote control mode on the screen.

That is, the output device 130 and/or the terminal 95 may output the add-on setting screen P500 including the settings list in which the remote control setting item C200 is displayed. The add-on setting screen P500 may be provided such that the user may select the remote control setting item C200 via the input device 110 or the terminal 95.

The user may select the remote control setting item C200 on the add-on setting screen P500 and set the application of the remote control mode, so that the controller 90 may activate the remote control mode.

In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may activate a remote control maintenance mode in which the remote control mode is continuously maintained. That is, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 90 may activate the remote control maintenance mode to maintain the remote control mode.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the remote control maintenance mode is not applied, the controller 90 may enter the standby state after the treatment course for treating the laundry is ended.

As described above, in the standby state, the power consumption may be minimized by preventing the power from being provided to the remaining power consuming devices except for the power standby unit. The standby state corresponds to a power-off state in which the power is not applied from a user's perspective.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the present disclosure may allow the user to conveniently use the treatment course of the laundry treating apparatus 1 remotely via the remote control mode, and further, may prevent unnecessary power consumption as the laundry treating apparatus 1 that has finished operating automatically enters the standby state.

However, the user may, when necessary, request performance of an additional treatment course after performing the one treatment course. For example, depending on a user's tendency, the user may request the remote control of the controller 90 even after the one treatment course has ended, such as wishing to additionally perform the rinsing course after the washing course or wishing to additionally perform the drying course after the washing course.

When maintenance of the remote control mode is required as above, even after the course performing process in which the treatment course for treating the laundry is performed via the remote control maintenance mode by the user, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may activate the remote control mode while maintaining the power-on state.

FIG. 7 shows an operational flowchart comparing a case in which a remote control maintenance mode is applied and a case in which the remote control maintenance mode is released. (a) in FIG. 7 shows a control sequence of the controller 90 or an operation sequence of the laundry treating apparatus 1 with the remote control maintenance mode released, and (b) in FIG. 7 shows a control sequence of the controller 90 or an operation sequence of the laundry treating apparatus 1 with the remote control maintenance mode applied.

Referring to FIG. 7, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may maintain the standby state before the use by the user and may be switched to the power-on state based on the input signal of the user such as the power button 111.

In one example, as a general operation sequence, a course selection process in which the user selects one of the plurality of treatment courses and sets an option may be performed, and a course performing process in which the laundry treatment is performed via the treatment course determined in the course selection process.

In one example, after the course performing process, when the remote control maintenance mode is released, the operation of the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be ended and the standby state may be entered.

On the other hand, when the remote control maintenance mode is applied, the power-on state of the laundry treating apparatus I may be maintained, and additional course selection process and course performing process may be performed based on the input signal of the user.

Specifically, the laundry treating apparatus I according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the cabinet 10, the drum 30 that is rotatably disposed inside the cabinet 10 and accommodates the laundry therein, and the controller 90 that is disposed in the cabinet 10 and performs the treatment course of the laundry accommodated in the drum 30.

The controller 90 may activate the remote control mode of receiving the command via the user's terminal 95 and performing the treatment course, and the controller 90 may activate the remote control maintenance mode in which the remote control mode is maintained in the power-on state even after the treatment course is ended in the remote control mode.

FIG. 8 shows a process of applying the remote control mode via the add-on setting screen P500. Referring to FIG. 8, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the remote control mode may be applied or released via the input device 110, which is disposed on the cabinet 10 and receives the command of the user, or the terminal 95.

Specifically, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the user manipulates a settings button for setting the add-on, the output device 130 may output the add-on setting screen P500 as shown in (a) in FIG. 8, and the remote control setting item C200 may be displayed on the add-on setting screen P500.

When the user selects the remote control setting item C200 via the manipulation of the input device 110, the output device 130 may display ‘applied’ and ‘released’ items as setting values for the remote control mode, as shown in (b) in FIG. 8.

The ‘applied’ and the ‘released’ may be changed to other phrases that may express the application and the release of the remote control mode. (b) in FIG. 8 shows items named ‘on’ and ‘off’.

In one example, when the user selects to apply the remote control mode, the output device 130 may return to the add-on setting screen P500 as shown in (c) in FIG. 8. However, the output device 130 may return to the add-on setting screen P500, and simultaneously display a remote control indicator M50 to notify the user that the remote control mode has been applied on the add-on setting screen P500.

The remote control indicator M50 may be displayed in a pop-up form on the add-on setting screen P500, may disappear after being displayed for a preset time or may disappear based on the input signal of the user, may include a phrase informing the user of the application of the remote control mode, and may include a phrase informing the user of features of the remote control mode.

In one example, when the remote control indicator M50 disappears, the output device 130 may output the add-on setting screen P500 again as shown in (d) in FIG. 8, but the remote control setting item C200 of the add-on setting screen P500 may display that the remote control mode is being applied.

FIG. 8 shows the add-on setting screen P500 output from the output device 130, but a process of setting the remote control mode via the add-on setting screen P500 using the terminal 95 is also not much different from the description above.

FIG. 9 shows the add-on setting screen P500 displaying a remote control maintenance setting item C220 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. (a) in FIG. 9 corresponds to the add-on setting screen P500 output from the output device 130, and (b) in FIG. 9 corresponds to the add-on setting screen P500 output from the terminal 95.

Referring to FIG. 9, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the add-on setting screen P500 may display the remote control maintenance setting item C220 for setting the remote control maintenance mode. However, the remote control maintenance setting item C220 may be displayed or activated only when the aforementioned remote control mode is applied.

For example, the add-on setting screen P500 output from the output device 130 or the terminal 95 may display the remote control maintenance setting item C220, and when the remote control mode is released, entry to the remote control maintenance setting item C220 may be denied or the remote control maintenance setting item C220 may be treated with low brightness and an input signal for the corresponding item may be ignored.

The user may directly select whether to apply or release the remote control maintenance mode via the manipulation of the remote control maintenance setting item C220. When the remote control maintenance mode is applied, the power-on state of the laundry treating apparatus 1 may be maintained even after the course performing process as described above.

In the remote control maintenance mode, the controller 90 may maintain the power-on state indefinitely, but when the input signal of the user is not transmitted even after a preset time has elapsed, may switch to the standby state or notify the user that the current state is the power-on state by the remote control maintenance mode.

FIG. 10 shows the course selection screen P200 and the course performance screen P300 that may be output from the output device 130. (a) in FIG. 10 corresponds to the course selection screen P200 on which one of the plurality of treatment courses may be selected and the option may be set, and (b) in FIG. 10 corresponds to the course performance screen P300 displaying the process in which the treatment course determined in the course selection screen P200 is performed.

The controller 90 may change the treatment course displayed on the course selection screen P200 based on the input signal of the user via the input device 110 on the course selection screen P200, or change an option setting value of the treatment course displayed on the course selection screen P200.

When the user manipulates the perform button 112 on the course selection screen P200, the controller 90 may perform the course performing process of performing the treatment course determined on the course selection screen P200, and the course performance screen P300 indicating a progress of the treatment course may be output via the output device 130.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 90 may automatically active the remote control mode when performing the treatment course. In other words, the controller 90 may be applied with an automatic remote control function in which the remote control mode is automatically applied.

When the automatic remote control function is applied, the controller 90 may automatically apply the remote control mode via the terminal 95 or the like at the same time as it enters the course performing process from the course selection process.

Therefore, after directly manipulating the input device 110 of the cabinet 10 to perform the course performing process, even without a separate setting process, the user may pause the course performing process or may restart the course performing process by changing the treatment course or the option via the terminal 95 or the like at a point distant from the laundry treating apparatus 1.

In one example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the input device 110 may include a pause button. The pause button may be the same as the perform button 112 described above, or may be distinguished and separated from the perform button 112.

The controller 90 may release the remote control mode when the pause button is pressed while performing the treatment course, and maintain the remote control mode when a pause command is input via the terminal 95.

With the remote control mode applied, when the pause button of the input device 110 is manipulated, the controller 90 may identify that a current situation is a situation in which the user is positioned close to the laundry treating apparatus 1 and directly manipulates the input device 110, and may release the remote control mode.

In addition, with the remote control mode applied, when the command to pause the course performing process is input via the terminal 95 rather than via the pause button of the input device 110, the controller 90 may identify that the user has an intention to control the laundry treating apparatus 1 via the remote control mode, and may maintain the remote control mode.

In one example, as described above, the remote control maintenance mode may be applied or released via the terminal 95 or the input device 110 disposed on the cabinet 10 and through which the command of the user is input.

Additionally, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 90 may set the remote control maintenance mode to be released when the remote control mode is executed.

When the remote control maintenance mode is applied, the power consumption is expected as the laundry treating apparatus 1 maintains the power-on state even after the course performing process, and furthermore, it is expect that it is a common situation for the user to end the laundry treatment by performing the single treatment course. Therefore, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the remote control maintenance mode may be set to be released by default when applying the remote control mode unless separate settings are made by the user.

In one example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as described above, the cabinet 10 may include the laundry inlet that is in communication with the inside of the drum 30, the laundry door 19 that opens and closes the laundry inlet, and the door lock 17 that maintains the closed state of the laundry door 19.

Additionally, in the remote control maintenance mode, the controller 90 may maintain the laundry door 19 in the closed state by controlling the door lock 17 after the treatment course ends.

Specifically, when the drum 30, which rotates at a high speed, is exposed to the outside, safety problems may occur, and therefore, during the course performing process, the controller 90 may control the door lock 17 to be locked to keep the laundry inlet 18 in the closed state.

However, when the course performing process ends, because the laundry inside the drum 30 needs to be taken out by the user, the controller 90 may control the door lock 17 to be open after the course performing process ends, so that the laundry door 19 may be manipulated by the user and the laundry inlet 18 may be opened.

In one example, when the remote control maintenance mode is applied, because it is expected that the additional course performing processes will be performed via the remote control of the user after the course performing process, the controller 90 may still keep the door lock 17 locked to stably secure a laundry treatment environment inside the drum 30.

For example, the controller 90 may control the door lock 17 to be locked in the remote control maintenance mode, thereby preventing a dangerous situation in which the laundry door 19 is open during the additional course performing process, and effectively preventing an abnormal situation in which the laundry is removed from the inside of the drum 30 or other objects are put into the drum 30.

In one example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the input device 110 may include the power button 111 described above, and the remote control maintenance mode may be released when the power button 111 is pressed after the treatment course ends.

Even in the remote control maintenance mode for the user to remotely control the controller 90 via the terminal 95 or the like, the controller 90 may release the remote control maintenance mode via the user's manipulation of the input device 110 as needed.

In one example, a difference between applying and releasing the remote control maintenance mode after the course performing process may ultimately be seen as a difference between the standby state and the power-on state for the controller 90 and other power consumption devices.

That is, when the remote control maintenance mode is released, the laundry treating apparatus 1 is scheduled to enter the standby state after the course performing process, so that the controller 90 may release the remote control maintenance mode based on the input signal of the power button 111.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the input device 110 may include a plurality of buttons including the power button 111, and the plurality of buttons may be deactivated except for the power button 111 in the remote control maintenance mode after the end of the treatment course.

That is, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 90 may maintain the remote control maintenance mode based on the user's control using the terminal 95 by ignoring manipulation signals of the various buttons included in the input device 110. However, the power button 111 may be activated, and the manipulation of the power button 111 may be identified as a user's intention to release the remote control maintenance mode, so that the remote control maintenance mode may be released.

FIG. 11 shows a screen output from the output device 130 after the end of the course performing process. Referring to FIG. 11, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the remote control maintenance mode, the output device 130 may output a remote control maintenance informing screen P520 that informs the user that the remote control mode is maintained after the end of the treatment course.

(a) in FIG. 11 shows a course end screen P350, which is output by switching from the course performance screen P300 when the course performing process ends, and (b) in FIG. 11 shows the remote control maintenance informing screen P520 output from the output device 130 after the course end screen P350 is output when the remote control maintenance mode is applied.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the power-on state is maintained in the situation in which the course performing process is ended, the user may suspect a product failure or experience inconvenience without being aware of the situation based on the application of the remote control maintenance mode.

Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the output device 130 may output the remote control maintenance information screen P520 after the course end screen P350 such that the user may recognize that the remote control maintenance mode is being applied.

In one example, conditions for releasing the remote control maintenance mode may be displayed on the remote control maintenance informing screen P520. That is, the remote control maintenance informing screen P520 may include a phrase informing that the current mode is the remote control maintenance mode and a phrase informing the release conditions of the remote control maintenance mode.

As described above, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the remote control maintenance mode may be released using the power button 111 of the input device 110. Additionally, other buttons except for the power button 111 may be deactivated, so that the input signals may not be generated therefrom or may be ignored.

That is, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the release conditions of the remote control maintenance mode are relatively strict compared to those of other functions or other modes. Therefore, an embodiment of the present disclosure may guide the release conditions of the remote control maintenance mode via the input device 110 such that the user may conveniently release the remote control maintenance mode via the input device 110.

However, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the release conditions of the remote control maintenance mode may be changed to various schemes, such as using a button other than the power button 111.

In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may notify the user via the output device 130 or the terminal 95 that the remote control maintenance mode is being activated when a preset time has elapsed after the end of the treatment course.

That is, the controller 90 may identify the elapsed time from the end of the course performing process to the present, and when the elapsed time exceeds the preset time, may inform the user of the situation in which the remote control maintenance mode is activated via the output device 130 and/or the terminal 95 to prevent the unnecessary power consumption.

There may be various ways to inform the remote control maintenance mode. For example, the controller 90 may output a screen indicating that the remote control maintenance mode is maintained beyond the preset time via the display 134 of the output device 130, may provide a warning sound via the speaker, and may provide a phrase explaining the situation in a notification format to the terminal 95.

Although the present disclosure is shown and described in relation to the specific embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be improved and changed in various ways without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure provided by the following patent claims.

LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS

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