Household appliance and control method thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to a control method of a home appliance, the home appliance having: an input unit that receives a control command from a user; and a display unit that displays a first process and a second process selectable by a user, and sequentially displays each process according to a preset display order when a request for displaying the selectable process is received by means of an input unit, the control method comprising: a process selection step of selecting a process selected by the user; selecting any one of the processes displayed on the display unit by means of the input unit; an execution step: executing the selected process; and a display order setting step of changing a preset display order based on the cumulative number of execution times of the first process and the cumulative number of execution times of the second process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to household appliances and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Household appliances are a general term for electronic devices used in a household. Refrigerators, cooking appliances, air conditioners, laundry treatment devices, etc. are examples of household appliances.

[0003] In the above household appliances, an interface is provided that is configured to receive a control command from a user and display information to the user. The interface is configured to include an input unit configured to input a control command and a display unit configured to display information.

[0004] In a conventional household appliance, the display order of information displayed through the display unit is preset. For example, in the case of a conventional laundry treatment device that displays information about multiple processes on the display unit through an operation of the input unit, the order of process information to be output to the display unit whenever the user presses the input unit is preset. Therefore, whenever the user presses the input unit, the multiple process information is displayed one by one in a predetermined order.

[0005] Since the processes preferred by the user may vary depending on the user, the conventional method of only displaying the process information in a predetermined order may cause inconvenience because the input unit should be pressed multiple times to find the desired process. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Technical Task

[0007] One technical task of the present disclosure designed to solve the above problems is a household appliance and a control method thereof that can determine a process preferred by a user based on the number of executions of a control command.

[0008] Another technical task of the present disclosure designed to solve the above problems is a household appliance and a control method thereof including an interface that can preferentially display a process preferred by a user.

[0009] Another technical task of the present disclosure designed to solve the above problems is a household appliance and a control method thereof that can set a control value changed based on the number of executions of an option command configured to change a control value set for a specific process as a default value for the specific process.

[0010] Technical Solution

[0011] The present disclosure provides a control method for a household appliance, the household appliance including: an input unit configured to receive a control command from a user; and a display unit configured to display a first process and a second process that can be selected by the user, and when a request for displaying selectable processes is received through the input unit, display each process in a predetermined display order in sequence.

[0012] The control method may include: a process selection step of selecting, through the input unit, one of the processes displayed on the display unit; an execution step of executing the selected process; and a display order setting step of changing the predetermined display order based on the cumulative execution times of the first process and the cumulative execution times of the second process.

[0013] The display order may be set such that when the cumulative execution times of the first process are greater than the cumulative execution times of the second process, the first process is displayed earlier than the second process.

[0014] The display order may be set such that when the cumulative execution times of the first process are less than the cumulative execution times of the second process, the second process is displayed earlier than the first process.

[0015] When the execution times of the execution step are not greater than a predetermined first reference number of times, a cumulative step of cumulating the execution times of the first process and the execution times of the second process may be executed; and when the execution times of the execution step are greater than the first reference number of times, the cumulative step may reset the execution times of the first process and the execution times of the second process.

[0016] The control method may further include: an option selection step of changing a control value set in at least one of a plurality of steps constituting the process selected in the process selection step; and a process reset step of storing the changed control value as a default value of the selected process when the cumulative change times of the control value are greater than a predetermined second reference number of times.

[0017] The present disclosure provides a household appliance, the household appliance including: an input unit configured to receive a control command from a user; a display unit configured to display a first process and a second process that can be selected by the user, and when a request for displaying selectable processes is received through the input unit, display each process in a predetermined display order in sequence; and a controller configured to change the display order based on the cumulative execution times of the control command.

[0018] When the sum of the number of executions of the first process and the number of executions of the second process reaches a predetermined first reference number, the controller may compare the cumulative number of executions of the first process with the cumulative number of executions of the second process, and may change the display order based on the result of the comparison.

[0019] The display order may be set such that when the cumulative number of executions of the first process is greater than the cumulative number of executions of the second process, the first process is displayed earlier than the second process.

[0020] The display order may be set such that when the cumulative number of executions of the first process is less than the cumulative number of executions of the second process, the second process is displayed earlier than the first process.

[0021] The input unit may be configured to receive a control command for changing a control value set in at least one step among a plurality of steps of each process; and the controller may be configured to store the changed control value as a default value of the process associated with the changed control value when the cumulative number of changes of the control value is greater than a predetermined second reference number.

[0022] Advantageous Effects

[0023] The present disclosure provides a household appliance and a control method thereof that can determine a user-preferred process based on the number of executions of a control command.

[0024] In addition, the present disclosure provides a household appliance and a control method thereof including an interface capable of preferentially displaying a user-preferred process.

[0025] In addition, the present disclosure provides a household appliance and a control method thereof that can set a control value changed based on the number of executions of an option command configured to change a control value set for a specific process as a default value of the specific process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 and Figure 2 show an example of a laundry processing apparatus.

[0027] Figure 3 show an example of a control panel.

[0028] Figure 4 show an example of a control method of a laundry processing apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments of a household appliance and a control method thereof will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0030] As Figure 1As shown, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 includes a cabinet 1, a tub 2 disposed in the cabinet and configured to store water, and a drum 3 rotatably disposed in the tub and configured to receive laundry therein.

[0031] The cabinet 1 may be configured to include a housing 11 and a lid 12. The housing 11 is configured to provide a space therein for accommodating the tub 2, and the lid 12 is configured to close the open upper surface of the housing.

[0032] The lid 12 may include a lid body 121 fixed to the housing 11 and configured to form the upper surface of the laundry treatment apparatus, and an access port 122 configured to extend through the lid body 121 (see Figure 2 ). The access port 122 may be configured to be closed by a door 13 pivotally coupled to the lid body 121.

[0033] A control panel 123 may be provided at the lid body 121. The control panel 123 may be provided with an input unit configured to receive a control signal from a user and a display unit configured to display information associated with the laundry treatment apparatus.

[0034] As Figure 2 shown, the tub 2 may include a tub body 21 having an empty cylindrical shape.

[0035] The tub body 21 is fixed to the cabinet 1 by a tub support 23. The tub support 23 may be in the form of a rod that is fixed at one end to the lid 12 or the housing 11 and at the other end to the circumferential surface of the tub body 21. A tub lid 22 is provided on the upper surface of the tub body 21. A tub access port 221 is provided at the tub lid 22 such that the tub access port 221 is disposed below the access port 122.

[0036] The tub body 21 receives water via a water supply device 24. The water in the tub body 21 may be discharged out of the cabinet 1 through a drainage unit 25.

[0037] The water supply device 24 may be configured to include a water supply pipe 242 connected to a water supply source, a water supply valve 243 configured to control the opening and closing of the water supply pipe 242 according to a control signal of a controller (not shown), and a chamber 241 (water supply passage) configured to guide the water supplied from the water supply pipe 242 to the inside of the tub 2. As an example, Figure 2 it is shown that the chamber 241 guides water to the tub body 21 through the tub access port 221.

[0038] The drainage unit 25 may be configured to include: a drainage pipe 251 configured to guide the water in the tub body 21 to the outside of the cabinet 1; and a drainage valve 252 configured to control the opening and closing of the drainage pipe according to a control signal of the controller.

[0039] The drum 3 is a device configured to be disposed within the tub body 21 to provide a space therein for storing laundry, and may include a drum body 31 having an empty cylindrical shape.

[0040] A drum inlet port 32 may be provided at the upper surface of the drum body 31 such that the drum inlet port 32 is disposed below the tub inlet port 221. Accordingly, a user may load laundry into the drum body 31 through the inlet port 122, the tub inlet port 221, and the drum inlet port 32. Communication holes 33 may be provided at the circumferential surface, the bottom surface, etc. of the drum body 31 to communicate the internal spaces of the tub body 21 and the drum body 31 with each other.

[0041] An agitator 34 may also be provided. The agitator 34 is disposed at the bottom surface of the drum body 31 to be rotatable within the drum body 31, and is configured to form a water flow within the drum body 31.

[0042] The drum body 31 and the agitator 34 are rotatable by a driver. The driver may be configured to include a motor 35 fixed to the bottom surface of the tub body 21 and disposed outside the tub body 21, a drum shaft 36 configured to interconnect the motor and the drum body 31, and an agitator shaft 37 configured to interconnect the motor and the agitator 34.

[0043] The agitator shaft 37 is configured to extend through the drum shaft 36 to directly interconnect the rotor of the motor 35 and the agitator 34. In this case, a transmission device 38 configured to interconnect the agitator shaft 37 and the drum shaft 36 and a clutch 39 configured to control the connection between one end of the drum shaft 36 and the rotor may be provided within the drum shaft 36.

[0044] The laundry treating apparatus 100 may supply detergent to the tub 2 through a detergent supplier 4.

[0045] The detergent supplier 4 may be configured to include a drawer 41 configured to be drawn out from a chamber 241, a storage space 42 provided in the drawer 41 to store detergent therein, and a detergent outlet 43 configured to discharge the detergent from the storage space 42 to the chamber 241.

[0046] The storage space 42 may include a first storage space 421 and a second storage space 422. The first storage space 421 is configured to store the detergent (first detergent or washing detergent) required during a washing process, and the second storage space 422 is configured to store the detergent (second detergent, rinsing detergent, or aromatic detergent) required during a rinsing process.

[0047] In this case, the detergent outlet 43 may include a first outlet 431 configured to discharge the detergent from the first storage space 421 into the chamber 241 and a second outlet 432 configured to discharge the detergent from the second storage space 422 into the chamber 241. The first outlet 431 may take the form of a hole extending through the drawer 41, while the second outlet 432 may take the form of a channel having a water collecting structure configured to discharge the detergent stored in the second storage space 422 into the chamber 241 when a predetermined amount or more of water is introduced into the second storage space 422.

[0048] In addition, the water supply pipe 242 may also be configured to include a first water supply pipe 242a and a first water supply valve 243a configured to supply water to the first storage space 421, and a second water supply pipe 242b and a second water supply valve 243b configured to supply water to the second storage space 422.

[0049] Figure 3 An example of the control panel 123 is shown. As described above, the input unit and the display unit are provided at the control panel 123.

[0050] The display unit 128 may be configured to display control signals (or control commands) that can be selected through the input unit.

[0051] The input unit may be configured to include: a first input unit 124 configured to input a control signal requesting power supply; a second input unit 125 (process selection unit) configured to request display of information about processes that can be selected by the user; a third input unit 126 (option selection unit) configured to select options of the processes displayed on the display unit 128 (configured to request addition, deletion, and change of control values constituting the processes); and a fourth input unit 127 configured to request execution of the processes selected by the user.

[0052] The second input unit 125 may be composed of two buttons or two touch sensors, which are arranged to face each other with the display unit 128 therebetween.

[0053] The display unit 128 may be set to display a plurality of processes that can be executed by the laundry treating apparatus 100 in a predetermined order.

[0054] The display unit 128 may be configured to display the processes one by one in a predetermined order whenever the user presses the second input unit 125a provided on the right side of the display unit 128, and to display the processes one by one in an order opposite to the predetermined order whenever the user presses the second input unit 125b provided on the left side of the display unit 128.

[0055] Figure 3As an example, a case is shown in which the display unit 128 is set to sequentially display the first process, the second process, and the third process. The first process may be set as a standard process, the second process may be set as an artificial intelligence process, and the third process may be set as a bedding process.

[0056] Option commands (controllable values that can be changed) that can be changed by the third input unit 126 may be, for example, the water supply amount or the processing execution time set for the washing process or the rinsing process, the number of repetitions of the rinsing process, the number of executions of the drying process, or the water temperature supplied to the washing process or the rinsing process.

[0057] Figure 4 An example of a control method for a laundry treatment apparatus is shown.

[0058] When power is supplied to the laundry treatment apparatus 100 through the first input unit 124, the display unit 128 may display the processes set to be preferentially displayed in a predetermined display order (S10).

[0059] A process may be defined by a time-series combination of a plurality of processes such as a washing process, a rinsing process, and a drying process, and each of the above processes may be defined by a combination of a plurality of steps such as a water supply step of supplying water to the tub, a rotation step of rotating the drum, and a drainage step of draining water from the tub.

[0060] In a case where the laundry treatment apparatus 100 is configured to execute the first process and the second process and is set such that the first process is displayed earlier than the second process, the display unit 128 may maintain the state of displaying the first process at the start of the process display step S10.

[0061] The control method executes a process selection step S20 during the execution of the process display step S10. The process selection step S20 may include a step of the user operating the second input unit 125 until a desired process is displayed on the display unit 127.

[0062] That is, when the user wishes to select the second process, the user may select the second process by inputting a control signal via the normal input unit 125a or the reverse input unit 125b in a state where the first process is displayed on the display unit 128. This is because when a control signal is input via the normal input unit 125a in a state where the first process is displayed on the display unit 128, the second process will be displayed on the display unit 128.

[0063] When a control signal is input via the third input unit 126 after a process is selected through the process selection step S20, the control method may execute an option selection step S30: changing a control value set for at least one of the plurality of steps constituting the selected process.

[0064] As described above, the control value can be, for example, the water supply amount set for the processes constituting the process (the water supply amount for the washing process or the water supply amount for the rinsing process), the process execution time, the number of repetitions of the process, and the water temperature supplied during the process.

[0065] When the selection of the desired process and the desired option is completed through the process selection step S20 and the option selection step S30, the control method executes the execution step S40 of controlling the operation of the laundry treating apparatus 100 for the selected process according to the selected option. The execution step S40 is a process of controlling the water supply device 24, the drainage unit 25, the motor 35, the clutch 39, etc. according to the control value set for the process and the option.

[0066] When the user inputs a control signal via the fourth input unit 127, the execution step S40 starts. After the start of the execution step S40, the control method may execute the accumulation step S50.

[0067] The accumulation step S50 is a step of calculating and storing the accumulated value of the number of executions of the first process, the accumulated value of the number of executions of the second process, the accumulated value of the number of executions of the option selected in the first process, and the accumulated value of the number of executions of the option selected in the second process.

[0068] The control method can determine which of the first process and the second process has been further executed through the accumulation step S50. In addition, the control method can determine which of the control values in the first process has a higher selection or change frequency, and which of the control values in the second process has a higher selection or change frequency through the accumulation step S50.

[0069] After the accumulation step S50 ends, the control method may execute step S70: determining whether the total number of executions of the execution step S40 is not less than a predetermined reference number (the first reference number).

[0070] When it is determined that the total number of executions of the execution step S40 is not greater than the first reference number, the accumulation step S50 accumulates and stores the number of executions of the first process and the number of executions of the second process. However, preferably, when it is determined that the total number of executions of the execution step S40 is greater than the first reference number, the accumulation step S50 resets the number of executions of the first process and the number of executions of the second process (both the number of executions of the first process and the number of executions of the second process are 0).

[0071] At the same time, when it is determined that the total number of executions of the execution step S40 is greater than the first reference number (S70), the control method executes the display order setting steps S71 and S72: setting (maintaining or changing) the display order based on the accumulated number of executions of the first process and the accumulated number of executions of the second process.

[0072] That is, when it is determined that the cumulative execution count of the first process is greater than that of the second process, the control method executes the display order setting step S71: setting the display order such that the first process is displayed earlier than the second process.

[0073] However, when it is determined that the cumulative execution count of the second process is greater than that of the first process, the control method executes the display order setting step S72: setting the display order such that the second process is displayed earlier than the first process.

[0074] Each of the display order setting steps S71 and S72 may be constituted by a step of the controller (not shown) changing the data regarding the display order.

[0075] After the display order setting step S72 ends, the control method may execute step S80: determining whether the cumulative change count of the control value set in each process through the option selection step S30 is greater than a predetermined reference count (second reference count).

[0076] When it is determined that the cumulative change count of the control value set in each process through the option selection step S30 is greater than the second reference count, the control method may execute the process reset steps S81 and S82: storing the changed control value as the default value of the process associated with the changed control value.

[0077] That is, when it is determined that the cumulative change count of one of the multiple control values constituting the first process is greater than the second reference count, the control method executes the first process reset step S81: setting the changed control value as the default value of the first process.

[0078] When the user executes the setting of changing the default water supply amount (first water supply amount) set for a specific step constituting the first process to the second water supply amount, the first process reset step S81 changes the water supply amount of the specific step constituting the first process to the second water supply amount. Therefore, the first process started after executing the first process reset step can supply water to the bucket with the second water supply amount.

[0079] Meanwhile, when it is determined that the cumulative change count of one of the multiple control values constituting the second process is greater than the second reference count, the control method executes the second process reset step S82: setting the changed control value as the default value of the second process.

[0080] Preferably, when the process reset steps S81 and S82 are executed, the control method is configured to reset the number of times of change of each control value accumulated during the reset process. That is, preferably, when the first process is reset (S81), the number of times of change of the control value that causes the reset of the first process is corrected to 0, and when the second process is reset (S82), the number of times of change of the control value that causes the reset of the second process is corrected to 0. The reset of the accumulated change times of each control value can be performed by the controller (not shown) correcting the stored data.

[0081] The above display order setting steps S71, S72 and process reset steps S81, S82 can be configured to be executed only when the user requests automatic process optimization. That is, the control method can be configured to determine whether an automatic process optimization request signal is input through the option selection step S30, and execute the display order setting steps S71, S72 and process reset steps S81, S82 only when the automatic process optimization is requested.

[0082] Therefore, the above-mentioned laundry processing apparatus can determine the process preferred by the user based on the number of executions of the control command, and can preferentially display the process preferred by the user on the display unit 128. In addition, the above-mentioned laundry processing apparatus can change the default value of each process based on the number of times of change of each control value constituting the process.

[0083] Although the above content is given with reference to the structure of the laundry processing apparatus and its control method, the above features can be applied to various household appliances such as refrigerators, cooking appliances, air conditioners, etc. including an input unit and a display unit.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a household appliance, the household appliance comprising: an input unit configured to receive a control command from a user; and a display unit configured to display a first process and a second process selectable by the user, and to sequentially display the processes in a predetermined display order upon receiving a request for displaying the selectable processes through the input unit, the control method comprising: a process selection step of selecting one of the processes displayed on the display unit through the input unit; An execution step to execute the selected process; and A display order setting step of changing the predetermined display order based on the cumulative number of executions of the first process and the cumulative number of executions of the second process.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein: The display order is set so that when the cumulative number of executions of the first process is greater than the cumulative number of executions of the second process, the first process is displayed earlier than the second process.

3. The control method according to claim 1, wherein: The display order is set so that when the cumulative number of executions of the first process is smaller than the cumulative number of executions of the second process, the second process is displayed earlier than the first process.

4. The control method according to claim 1, wherein: When the execution number of the execution step is not greater than a predetermined first reference number, executing a accumulating step of accumulating the execution number of the first process and the execution number of the second process; and When the execution count of the execution step is greater than the first reference count, the accumulation step resets the execution count of the first process and the execution count of the second process.

5. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising: an option selection step of changing a control value set in at least one of a plurality of steps constituting the process selected in the process selection step; as well as A process resetting step, when the cumulative change times of the control value is greater than a predetermined second reference times, storing the changed control value as a default value of the selected process.

6. A household appliance, comprising: an input unit configured to receive a control command from a user; a display unit configured to display a first process and a second process selectable by the user, and to sequentially display the processes in a predetermined display order upon receiving a request for displaying the selectable processes through the input unit; as well as A controller is configured to change the display order based on a cumulative number of executions of the control command.

7. The household appliance according to claim 6, wherein: When the sum of the execution times of the first process and the second process reaches a predetermined first reference number, the controller compares the cumulative execution times of the first process and the second process with each other and changes the display order based on a result of the comparison.

8. The household appliance according to claim 7, wherein: The display order is set so that when the cumulative number of executions of the first process is greater than the cumulative number of executions of the second process, the first process is displayed earlier than the second process.

9. The household appliance according to claim 7, wherein: The display order is set so that when the cumulative number of executions of the first process is smaller than the cumulative number of executions of the second process, the second process is displayed earlier than the first process.

10. The household appliance according to claim 6, wherein: The input unit is configured to receive a control command for changing a control value set in at least one of the plurality of steps of each process; and The controller is configured to store the changed control value as a default value of a process associated with the changed control value when the accumulated number of changes in the control value is greater than a predetermined second reference number of times.

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