Dishwasher and control method thereof

Abstract

A dishwasher comprises: a body which has an opening and in which an object to be washed is loaded; a door connected to one side of the body to open and close the opening; a driving device for driving the door to be selectively open; a memory for storing at least one instruction; and one or more processors for executing the at least one instruction, wherein the one or more processors acquire an operation state of a heating device around the dishwasher, acquire a door opening time point related to a drying process on the basis of the acquired operation state, and control the driving device to open the door in relation to the drying process on the basis of the acquired door opening time point.

Description

Dishwasher and method of controlling the same

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher and a control method thereof that controls the opening of the door of the dishwasher according to the operating state of a heating device.

[0002] Among household appliances that assist with household chores, there's the dishwasher, used to clean dishes that have been used for food. Dishwashers have a built-in dish storage area. Once dishes are placed in the storage area, they spray detergent and water to clean any food-contaminated dishes.

[0003] Dishwashers can perform drying operations in a variety of ways. One method involves heating dishes using high-temperature hot water, then opening the door to dry the surface of the dishes using the temperature difference between the heated dishes and the ambient air.

[0004] The information described in the background art described above is provided to aid understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion has been made, as to whether any of the above-described information constitutes prior art in connection with the present disclosure.

[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure may address at least one of the aforementioned problems and / or disadvantages and provide the advantages described below. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a dishwasher and a control method thereof that control the opening of the dishwasher door based on the operating state of the heating device.

[0006] Additional embodiments will be presented in the detailed description that follows, some of which will be apparent from the detailed description, and others which may also be learned from the presented embodiments.

[0007] A dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is disclosed. The dishwasher includes a body having an opening for loading a washing object, a door connected to one side of the body for opening and closing the opening, a driving device for selectively opening the door, a memory for storing at least one instruction, and at least one processor for executing the at least one instruction, wherein the at least one processor acquires an operating state of a heating device around the dishwasher, acquires a door opening time associated with a drying process based on the acquired operating state, and controls the driving device to open the door in relation to the drying process based on the acquired door opening time.

[0008] The one or more processors may determine a point in time when the temperature within the body reaches a preset temperature and a preset time after the point in time when the temperature is reached, control the driving device to open the door at the determined point in time, and, if it is determined that the heating device is operating at the determined point in time, delay the determined door opening point in time.

[0009] The one or more processors may determine the point in time after the operation of the heating device has ended based on the point in time at which the driving device drives the door being delayed and the operation of the heating device having ended.

[0010] The one or more processors may control the driving device to perform a reheating process to allow the temperature within the body to reach the preset temperature based on the delay in the point in time at which the driving device drives the door and the termination of the operation of the heating device, and to open the door after the preset time has elapsed after the reheating process.

[0011] The above preset temperature is a first temperature, and the one or more processors can perform a reheating process so that the temperature within the body reaches the first temperature when the time at which the driving device drives the door is delayed and the temperature within the body becomes lower than a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

[0012] The one or more processors may control the driving device to open the door when the door opening time is delayed and the temperature inside the body is lower than a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

[0013] The one or more processors may determine whether the heating device is operating before entering the drying process, and if the heating device is determined to be operating, may delay the progress of the drying process until the operation of the heating device is stopped.

[0014] The dishwasher further includes a communication device that communicates with an external device, and the one or more processors can obtain an operating status of the heating device through the heating device or a server connected to the heating device.

[0015] The dishwasher further includes a temperature sensor located at the upper portion of the body, and the one or more processors can obtain the operating status of the heating device based on temperature information identified by the temperature sensor.

[0016] The dishwasher further comprises a speaker, and the one or more processors can control the speaker to provide notification information related to the opening of the door when the door is opened or the opening time is delayed.

[0017] A control method for a dishwasher including a body configured to load a washing object according to one embodiment of the present disclosure and a door configured to open and close the body includes the steps of acquiring an operating state of a heating device around the dishwasher, acquiring a time point for opening a door related to a drying process of the dishwasher based on the acquired operating state, and controlling the opening of the door based on the acquired door opening time point.

[0018] The step of obtaining the point in time for the door opening may include determining a point in time when the temperature within the body reaches a preset temperature and a preset time after the point in time when the temperature is reached, and delaying the determined door opening point in time when it is confirmed that the heating device is operating at the point in time.

[0019] The step of obtaining the point in time for the door opening may determine the point in time after the point in time at which the operation of the heating device is terminated based on the point in time at which the door is opened being delayed and the operation of the heating device being terminated.

[0020] If it is confirmed that the door opening time is delayed and the operation of the heating device has ended, the step of performing a reheating process to allow the temperature within the body to reach the first temperature is further included, and the step of opening the door may open the door after the first time has passed after the reheating process is performed.

[0021] The control method may further include a step of performing a reheating process so that the temperature within the body reaches the preset temperature based on the time point of driving the door being delayed and the operation of the heating device being terminated.

[0022] The above preset temperature is a first temperature, and the step of opening the door may open the door when the door opening time is delayed and the temperature inside the body becomes lower than a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

[0023] The step of obtaining the door opening point may further include a step of checking whether the heating device is operating before entering the drying process, and if it is confirmed that the heating device is operating, delaying the progress of the drying process until the operation of the heating device is stopped.

[0024] The step of acquiring the above operating state can acquire the operating state of the heating device through communication with the heating device or a server connected to the heating device.

[0025] The step of acquiring the above operating state can acquire the operating state of the heating device based on temperature information acquired from a temperature sensor located at the upper portion of the body.

[0026] In a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing at least one computer command that is individually or collectively executable by at least one processor of a dishwasher including a body configured to load a washing object according to one embodiment of the present disclosure and a door for selectively opening the body, the control method includes the steps of: acquiring an operating state of a heating device around the dishwasher; acquiring a door opening time related to a drying cycle of the dryer based on the acquired operating state; and controlling the opening of the door based on the acquired door opening time.

[0027] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining the operation of a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining a door opening operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining a door opening operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining a door opening operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 7 is a drawing for explaining a door opening operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface window displayed on a display according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a drying cycle operation of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and

[0038] FIG. 11 is a drawing for explaining a method for determining the operating status of a heating device using a temperature sensor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] To provide a comprehensive understanding of the various embodiments of the disclosure, including the claims and their equivalents, the appended drawings will be used for a detailed description. While various implementation examples are included to aid understanding, they are merely exemplary. Therefore, it should be recognized that those skilled in the art can modify and adapt the contents of this specification, while still remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, well-known functions and configurations may be omitted for clarity and brevity.

[0040] The terms and words used in the detailed description or claims are not limited to their bibliographic meanings and are merely used by the inventors to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is clear that the following descriptions of various embodiments of the disclosure are intended to be illustrative and not intended to limit the definitions of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0041] In this disclosure, singular forms such as "a," "an," and "the" should be understood to include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, "a component surface" should be interpreted to include one or more than one expression.

[0042] In describing the present disclosure, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0043] Additionally, the following embodiments may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the technical concepts of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided to further faithfully and completely convey the technical concepts of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0044] The terminology used in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the rights. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0045] In this disclosure, expressions such as “has,” “can have,” “includes,” or “may include” indicate the presence of a corresponding feature (e.g., a component such as a number, function, operation, or part), and do not exclude the presence of additional features.

[0046] In this disclosure, expressions such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and / or B,” or “one or more of A or / and B” can include all possible combinations of the listed items. For example, “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” or “at least one of A or B” can all refer to instances where (1) at least one A is included, (2) at least one B is included, or (3) at least one A and at least one B are included.

[0047] The expressions “first,” “second,” “first,” or “second,” etc., used in this disclosure can describe various components, regardless of order and / or importance, and are only used to distinguish one component from another, but do not limit the components.

[0048] When it is said that a component (e.g., a first component) is “(operatively or communicatively) coupled with / to” or “connected to” another component (e.g., a second component), it should be understood that said component may be directly coupled to said other component, or may be coupled via another component (e.g., a third component).

[0049] On the other hand, when it is said that a component (e.g., a first component) is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component (e.g., a second component), it can be understood that no other component (e.g., a third component) exists between said component and said other component.

[0050] The expression "configured to" as used in the present disclosure may be used interchangeably with, for example, "suitable for," "having the capacity to," "designed to," "adapted to," "made to," or "capable of." The term "configured to" may not necessarily mean only "specifically designed to" in terms of hardware.

[0051] Instead, in some contexts, the phrase "a device configured to" may mean that the device, in conjunction with other devices or components, is "capable of" performing A, B, and C. For example, the phrase "a processor configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C" may refer to a dedicated processor (e.g., an embedded processor) for performing those operations, or a general-purpose processor (e.g., a CPU or application processor) that can perform those operations by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device.

[0052] In the embodiments, a 'module' or 'part' performs at least one function or operation, and may be implemented as hardware or software, or as a combination of hardware and software. Furthermore, a plurality of 'modules' or 'parts' may be integrated into at least one module and implemented as at least one processor, except for a 'module' or 'part' that needs to be implemented as a specific hardware.

[0053] According to various embodiments, operations performed by a module, program or other component may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively or heuristically, or at least some operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or other operations may be added.

[0054] Meanwhile, the various elements and areas in the drawings are schematically drawn. Therefore, the technical concepts of the present disclosure are not limited by the relative sizes or spacings drawn in the attached drawings.

[0055] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail so that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains can easily implement the present disclosure.

[0056] The blocks and combinations of flowcharts within each flowchart can be executed by one or more computer programs containing instructions. The one or more computer programs may be stored entirely in a single memory device, or the one or more computer programs may be divided into multiple parts and stored in different memory devices.

[0057] Any functions and operations described herein may be processed by a single processor or a combination of processors. A single processor or a combination of processors may include a circuit that performs processing, an application processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a communication processor (e.g., a modem), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU) (e.g., an AI chip), a Wi-Fi, chip, a Bluetooth chip, a GPS chip, an NFC chip, a connectivity chip, a sensor controller, a touch controller, a fingerprint sensor controller, a display driver integrated circuit, an audio CODEC chip, a universal serial bus (USB) controller, a camera controller, an image processing IC, a microprocessor unit (MPU), a system on chip (SoC), an integrated circuit (IC), etc.).

[0058] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining the operation of a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 1, a dishwasher (100) includes a body (101) having a space for loading items to be washed. The body (101) may include a space (or a rack) for loading dishes. The dishwasher (100) can perform an operation of washing dishes such as cups, bowls, plates, pots, frying pans, chopsticks, spoons, forks, and knives placed in the dish loading space.

[0060] Here, the "loading space" refers to the area where dishes, etc. to be washed are placed, and may also be referred to as a washing space, an internal space, a washing area, a washing area, etc. In addition, the space described above may be composed of one area, or may be divided into multiple areas using multiple racks.

[0061] The body of the dishwasher (100) may include a holder for holding an object to be washed, a spray nozzle for spraying washing water onto the object to be washed, etc. The body may have a space for loading the above-described holder (or object to be washed) and an opening for a user to access the space.

[0062] A door (102) is positioned on the front of the body. The door (102) can selectively open the space within the body described above through movement, such as rotation or sliding. This door opening can be performed by the user's force or by utilizing the force of a separate driving device. The use of a driving device is described later in FIG. 2.

[0063] In Fig. 1, a door (102) is connected to the lower side of the body and rotates relative to the lower side to open the interior of the body. However, when implemented, the door (102) may be connected to the right or left side of the body and rotate left and right to open the interior of the body. When implemented, a door that opens in a sliding manner rather than a rotating manner is also possible, and a door that utilizes multiple doors rather than a single door is also possible.

[0064] Additionally, the door may be implemented to expose the top or side of the dishwasher, or to expose multiple sides rather than just one. For example, the entire surrounding slope and top surface of the dishwasher loading space may be opened upward.

[0065] A user can open a loading space using a door (102) provided in a portion of the body of a dishwasher (100) and load dishes into the loading space. Furthermore, the user can input a control command to close the door (102) of the dishwasher (100) and initiate a washing operation. Upon inputting such a control command, the dishwasher (100) can perform a washing process by spraying detergent and water onto the dishes.

[0066] Once the washing process is completed through this process, rinsing and drying processes can be performed. Each process is described below. Furthermore, implementation may include other processes (e.g., sterilization) in addition to the three processes described above.

[0067] Here, the washing cycle involves spraying detergent and water to clean dishes. The rinsing cycle involves spraying water inside the dishwasher to remove any detergent residue or residue.

[0068] The drying process, which removes water from the surface of the dishes, can be performed in various ways. For example, it can be performed by supplying high-temperature and / or dry air to the dishes within the body. Alternatively, it can include heating the dishes with high-temperature water and exposing the heated dishes to air with relatively low humidity for drying.

[0069] The drying process through exposure of the door (102) can be divided into three stages: heating the dish, waiting for a certain period of time, and then opening the door (102). Each stage can be configured in various ways depending on the temperature and duration at which it is to be performed, and several combinations can be provided to the user as a course. This will be described later in FIG. 2.

[0070] The dishwasher of the present disclosure may operate by employing at least one of the above-described methods. However, the following description assumes that the dishwasher employs a method in which dishes are heated to a high temperature and the heated dishes are exposed to air, i.e., the door (102) is opened to dry them. However, it is self-evident that, when implemented, the dishwasher may operate by combining the above-described method with another drying method. That is, a method in which high temperature and / or dry air is supplied to the interior together with the door opening operation may also be applied.

[0071] This method of opening the door opens the door during the drying process, thereby extending the door to the front area of ​​the dishwasher. While the illustrated example shows the door as being fully open, the degree of opening (or degree of opening, angle of opening) may differ from the illustrated form. For example, during the loading and unloading of dishes, the door may be fully open as illustrated, while the opening for drying, as described above, may be at a smaller angle (or angle of opening) than the illustrated degree.

[0072] Furthermore, the aforementioned degree of protrusion (or degree of opening, or angle of opening) may not be fixed but rather variable. For example, during times when users are likely to use the heating device (e.g., mealtimes) or when users are likely to enter the kitchen, the opening may be performed at a minimal interval. Conversely, during late-night hours or when the user is out, the opening may be opened further than described above to enhance the drying effect. Furthermore, the aforementioned degree of opening may vary depending on factors such as the indoor air quality (temperature, humidity), as well as the weather.

[0073] Meanwhile, various heating devices (e.g., induction) have recently become available, and some are located on top of dishwashers to save space. If the heating device is located on top of the dishwasher, the door opening described above can negatively impact the heating device.

[0074] For example, an induction cooktop performs a curling action that draws in air from the front to lower the temperature of its internal components. If the door of a dishwasher (100) is opened during the induction operation, the hot and / or humid air inside the dishwasher will leak out and enter the adjacent induction cooktop. Such hot air will reduce the curling function within the induction cooktop, and the humid air may cause corrosion of internal components.

[0075] Furthermore, opening the door of the dishwasher (100) while the heating device is in operation can be inconvenient for the user. For example, when using the heating device, this can occur during cooking, etc. During such cooking operations, the space in front of the dishwasher is highly available, such as when positioned in front of the heating device or moving in front of the heating device. If the door is opened in this state and the high temperature and humid air inside the dishwasher is discharged, the user may experience discomfort due to the discharged air.

[0076] To address these issues, the dishwasher (100) according to the present disclosure can check the operating status of a heating device (e.g., induction (200)) and adjust the door opening time (or drying cycle time) based on the checked operating status. The detailed configuration and operation of the dishwasher (100) for such operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0077] An induction cooktop (200) is a heating device capable of providing heat to a cooking utensil placed on top. This induction cooktop is a device that generates heat by reacting with a container made of a magnetically conductive material using a magnetic field. While induction is depicted as the heating device in this disclosure, other heating devices, such as a highlighter or gas range, may be used in implementation.

[0078] A highlight is a device that can perform cooking using an electrically heated heating element, and a gas range is a device that can provide heat to a cooking utensil using gas as a heat source. In the present disclosure, only induction, a gas range, and a highlight are exemplified as heating devices, but they are not limited to these, and other devices (e.g., microwaves, ovens, toasters, etc.) can be used as long as they can perform a heating operation on a cooking utensil.

[0079] Furthermore, while the illustrated example assumes the heating device is installed on top of the dishwasher, the implementation may not assume this configuration, but rather place it on the upper portion of the dishwasher. Furthermore, rather than being placed entirely on top of the dishwasher, only a portion of the heating device may overlap. Furthermore, even if the heating device is not directly overlapping, the present invention can be applied to cases where the heating device is positioned so closely that opening the dishwasher door can affect the heating device.

[0080] A dishwasher (100) and a heating device (induction (200), gas range, highlight) such as this may be referred to as a home appliance. Such a home appliance may be connected to a user device or a server, etc.

[0081] Here, a "user device" may be carried by the user or placed in the user's home or office, etc. User devices may include, but are not limited to, a personal computer, a terminal, a portable telephone, a smart phone, a handheld device, a wearable device, etc.

[0082] And, the “server” can be implemented as a variety of computing devices such as a workstation, a cloud, a data drive, a data station, etc.

[0083] A server can be implemented as one or more servers that are physically or logically separated based on function, detailed configuration of function, or data, and can transmit and receive data and process the transmitted and received data through communication between each server.

[0084] The server can perform functions such as managing user accounts, registering home appliances (100, 200) by linking them to user accounts, and managing or controlling registered home appliances (100, 200).

[0085] For example, a user can access a server via a user device and create a user account. The user account can be identified by an ID and password set by the user. The server can register a home appliance (100, 200) to the user account according to a set procedure. For example, the server can register, manage, and control the home appliance (100, 200) by linking identification information (e.g., serial number or MAC address) of the home appliance (100, 200) to the user account.

[0086] The user device may include a communication module capable of communicating with a home appliance (100, 200) or a server, a user interface for receiving user input or outputting information to the user, at least one processor for controlling the operation of the user device, and at least one memory storing a program for controlling the operation of the user device.

[0087] The user device's memory may store programs, or applications, for controlling home appliances. Applications may be sold pre-installed on the user device or downloaded and installed from an external server.

[0088] A user can access a server by executing an application installed on a user device, create a user account, and register a home appliance (100, 200) by communicating with the server based on the logged-in user account.

[0089] For example, if a home appliance (100, 200) is operated so that the home appliance (100, 200) can be connected to a server according to the procedure guided by an application installed on the user device, the home appliance (100, 200) can be registered to the user account by registering identification information (e.g., serial number or MAC address) of the home appliance (100, 200) to the user account on the server.

[0090] A user can control a home appliance (100, 200) using an application installed on the user device. For example, when a user logs into a user account using an application installed on the user device, the home appliance (100, 200) registered to the user account appears, and when a control command for the home appliance (100, 200) is input, the control command can be transmitted to the home appliance (100, 200) via the server.

[0091] In addition, the server can transmit and receive information between registered home appliances. For example, if the server receives information from the induction (200) that it is in operation, it can provide the received information that it is in operation to the dishwasher (100). Such operation in the server may be performed regardless of whether the dishwasher (100) is in operation or may be performed according to the operating status of the dishwasher (100). That is, as described above, when the induction and the dishwasher are in operation simultaneously, or when the door of the dishwasher is expected to open during the induction operation, information about the operating status of the induction may be provided to the dishwasher according to the judgment operation of the server.

[0092] In addition, the server can determine whether the induction (200) and the dishwasher (100) are placed adjacent to each other. That is, the server can determine whether the door opening timing needs to be adjusted depending on the operating status of the induction, or can store the above-described determination result. For example, the server can determine whether to link the dishwasher and the induction based on the placement of the dishwasher and the induction using the results captured by an external camera. Alternatively, the server can inquire the user whether the heating device and the dishwasher are installed as shown in FIG. 1 at the time of installation of the dishwasher or the induction. More specifically, the dishwasher (100) or the induction (200) can receive information regarding the above-described matters during the process of registering a user account.

[0093] Meanwhile, in the above description, the server provides the induction operation status to the dishwasher, but when implemented, the server may provide the induction operation status to the dishwasher when there is a request for information from the dishwasher.

[0094] A network can include both wired and wireless networks. Wired networks include cable networks or telephone networks, while wireless networks can include any network that transmits and receives signals via radio waves. Wired and wireless networks can be interconnected.

[0095] A network may include a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN) formed around an access point (AP), and a short-range wireless network that does not use an access point (AP). Short-range wireless networks may include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), Wi-Fi Direct, Near Field Communication (NFC), and Z-Wave.

[0096] An access point (AP) can connect a home appliance (100, 200) or user device to a wide area network (WAN) to which a server is connected. The home appliance (100, 200) or user device can be connected to the server via the wide area network (WAN).

[0097] The access point (AP) can communicate with home appliances (100, 200) or user devices using wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), and can connect to a wide area network (WAN) using wired communication, but is not limited thereto.

[0098] According to various embodiments, the home appliance (100, 200) may be directly connected to a user device or server without going through an access point (AP).

[0099] The home appliance (100, 200) can be connected to a user device or server via a long-distance wireless network or a short-distance wireless network.

[0100] For example, the home appliance (100, 200) can be connected to the user device via a short-range wireless network (e.g., Wi-Fi Direct).

[0101] As another example, the home appliance (100, 200) may be connected to a user device or server via a wide area network (WAN) using a long-distance wireless network (e.g., a cellular communication module).

[0102] As another example, a home appliance (100, 200) may connect to a wide area network (WAN) using wired communication and be connected to a user device or server through the wide area network (WAN).

[0103] If the home appliance (100, 200) can access a wide area network (WAN) via wired communication, it can also function as an access relay. Accordingly, the home appliance (100, 200) can connect other home appliances to the wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected. Furthermore, other home appliances can connect the home appliance (100, 200) to the wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected.

[0104] The home appliance (100, 200) can transmit information regarding its operation or status to another home appliance, a user device, or a server via a network. For example, the home appliance (100, 200) can transmit information regarding its operation or status to another home appliance, a user device, or a server when a request is received from a server, when a specific event occurs in the home appliance (100, 200), or periodically or in real time.

[0105] When information about operation or status is received from a home appliance (100, 200), the server can update the stored information about the operation or status of the home appliance (100, 200) and transmit the updated information about the operation and status of the home appliance (100, 200) to the user device via the network. Here, updating information can include various operations that change existing information, such as an operation of adding new information to existing information or an operation of replacing existing information with new information.

[0106] The home appliance (100, 200) can obtain various information from other home appliances, user devices, or servers, and provide the obtained information to the user. For example, the home appliance (100, 200) can obtain information related to the functions of the home appliance (100, 200) (e.g., recipes, laundry instructions, etc.) and various environmental information (e.g., weather, temperature, humidity, etc.) from the server, and output the obtained information through a user interface.

[0107] The home appliance (100, 200) can operate according to control commands received from other home appliances, user devices, or servers. For example, if the home appliance (100, 200) has obtained prior approval from the user to operate according to control commands from the server even without user input, the home appliance (100, 200) can operate according to control commands received from the server. Here, the control commands received from the server may include, but are not limited to, control commands input by the user through the user device or control commands based on preset conditions.

[0108] For example, while the above description describes the dishwasher as independently determining and delaying the door opening time, the server may provide a command to the dishwasher (100) to delay the door opening if the induction is in operation. Furthermore, the user device, not the server, may check the status of the operating appliance and perform the control operation described above.

[0109] The user device can transmit information about the user to a home appliance (100, 200) or a server via a communication module. For example, the user device can transmit information about the user's location, health status, preferences, schedule, etc. to the server. The user device can transmit information about the user to the server with the user's prior consent.

[0110] The home appliance (100, 200), user device, or server may determine control commands using technologies such as artificial intelligence. For example, the server may receive information regarding the operation or status of the home appliance (100, 200) or information regarding the user of the user device, process the information using technologies such as artificial intelligence, and transmit the processing result or control command to the home appliance (100, 200) or the user device based on the processing result.

[0111] Meanwhile, Fig. 1 illustrates adjusting the door opening timing of a dishwasher, assuming a heating device (i.e., an induction cooktop) is positioned above the dishwasher. However, given that cooking and kitchen use involve not only the use of heating devices but also various other methods, the present invention can be applied to various environments, such as when a user is expected to use the upper portion of a dishwasher.

[0112] For example, this may include a case where a sink is installed above a dishwasher and a user uses water at the sink. Furthermore, the above-described operation may also be applied if a microwave oven is placed above the dishwasher and is in use, or if a cooking appliance such as a toaster is operating above the dishwasher, or if a user performs a food preparation or cooking operation (e.g., grinding food, kneading dough, etc.) above the dishwasher.

[0113] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0114] Referring to FIG. 2, the dishwasher (100) may include a memory (110), a driving device (120), and one or more processors (130) (hereinafter, processor (130)).

[0115] The memory (110) temporarily or non-temporarily stores various programs or data, and transmits the stored information to the processor (130) upon a call from the processor (130). In addition, the memory (110) can store various information necessary for operations, processing, or control operations of the processor (130) in an electronic format.

[0116] The memory (110) may include, for example, at least one of a main memory and an auxiliary memory. The main memory may be implemented using a semiconductor storage medium such as ROM and / or RAM. The ROM may include, for example, a conventional ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and / or MASK-ROM. The RAM may include, for example, DRAM and / or SRAM. The auxiliary memory may be implemented using at least one storage medium capable of permanently or semi-permanently storing data, such as a flash memory (110) device, an SD (Secure Digital) card, a solid state drive (SSD), a hard disk drive (HDD), an optical media such as a magnetic drum, a compact disc (CD), a DVD, or a laser disc, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disc, and / or a floppy disk.

[0117] The memory (110) can store instructions for at least a dishwashing course. For example, the memory (110) can store instructions for executing a standard course, an AI customized course, an eco course, a strong course, a steam soaking course, a nighttime low-noise course, a top rapid course, a pot and frying pan washing course, a glass washing course, a plastic washing course, a baby bottle sterilization course, a rinse-drying course, a cold water rinsing course, a drying-only course, and a tub sterilization course. Such a course includes at least one or more of the washing cycle, rinsing cycle, and drying cycle described above, and can store time information, water temperature information, water discharge level information, and the like for each cycle.

[0118] The driving device (120) allows the door to be selectively opened from the body. Specifically, the driving device (120) may include a motor and a mechanism for opening the door by the rotational force of the motor.

[0119] The processor (130) controls the overall operation of the dishwasher (100). Specifically, the processor (130) is connected to the configuration of the dishwasher including the memory (110) as described above, and can control the overall operation of the dishwasher by executing at least one instruction stored in the memory (110) as described above. In particular, the processor (130) may be implemented not only as a single processor (130) but also as a plurality of processors (130).

[0120] The processor (130) may be implemented as one or more IC (integrated circuit (or circuitry)) chips and may perform various data processing operations. The processor (130) may include at least one electrical circuit and may individually or collectively distribute and process instructions (or programs, data, etc.) stored in the memory (110).

[0121] The processor (130) may comprise a processor assembly including one or more processing circuits. The processor (130) may include any processing circuit operative to control the performance and operations of one or more components (e.g., memory (110) and / or drive (120)) of the dishwasher (100). For example, the processor (130) (e.g., AP) may be implemented as a system on chip (SoC) (e.g., a single chip or chipset). For example, the processor (130) may be implemented as multiple cores (or at least one core circuit), multiple chips, or multiple chipsets.

[0122] For example, the processor (130) may include one or more processing circuits. The processor (130) may include one or more processing circuits configured to individually and / or collectively perform various functions of the present disclosure. As a non-limiting example, at least a portion of the processor (130) may be included in a first chip of the dishwasher (100), and at least another portion of the processor (130) may be included in a second chip of the dishwasher (100) that is different from the first chip of the dishwasher (100).

[0123] For example, the processor (130) may include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a display controller, a memory controller, a storage controller, a communication processor (CP), and / or a sensor interface. These components of the processor (130) are merely exemplary. The processor (130) may further include other components in addition to the above-described configuration. In addition, some components of the processor (130) may be omitted. And some components of the processor (130) may be included as separate components of the dishwasher (100) outside the processor (130). For example, some components of the processor (130) (e.g., a memory controller) may be included within other components (e.g., at least a portion of the memory (110), an interface (e.g., available for connecting to at least one component of the dishwasher (100), the display (140)).

[0124] The processor (130) can cause other components of the dishwasher (100) to perform various operations by executing instructions stored in the memory (110).

[0125] The processor (130) can perform a series of operations to wash the object to be washed. For example, when a user selects a washing course, or when a washing course and washing command are input from an external device, the processor (130) can perform a washing process, a rinsing process, a drying process, etc. corresponding to the washing course selected by the user.

[0126] The processor (130) acquires the operating status of the induction cooktop surrounding the dishwasher. Specifically, the processor (130) may acquire the operating status by directly communicating with the induction cooktop or by communicating with a server via communication via the communication circuit (160) described below. Alternatively, the processor (130) may acquire the operating status using information acquired from a sensor (170) described below. This will be described later in FIG. 3.

[0127] And the acquisition of the operating state of this induction may be performed periodically during the progress of the washing cycle, may be performed before entering the drying cycle, or may be performed before opening the door.

[0128] Meanwhile, although the above description only describes obtaining information about the operating status of the induction (i.e., whether it is on or off), the processor (130) may also obtain information on the termination of the induction. Such termination information may be used when a user inputs an expected termination time for the induction or sets it to operate for a certain period of time (for example, when a heating device such as a microwave oven is operated with a 3-minute timer). Alternatively, the processor (130) may use user usage pattern information within a server or user device to predict the termination time of the induction and use the predicted termination time. Such predicted termination time may be obtained by the dishwasher (100) itself, or may obtain information generated by a server or user device.

[0129] The processor (130) acquires the door opening time during the drying process based on the acquired operating status. For example, the processor (130) may determine the door opening time as the time when the drying process begins, the temperature inside the body reaches a preset first temperature, and a preset first time elapses from the time the first temperature is reached.

[0130] If the induction is determined to be operating at any time during the drying process, the processor (130) may adjust the aforementioned door opening timing. For example, the processor (130) may delay (or adjust) the aforementioned door opening timing until the induction is determined to be stopped or not operating. In this case, the processor (130) may also extend the aforementioned door opening timing only until the temperature inside the door is maintained at a preset temperature.

[0131] As the door extension time is extended, the heated internal temperature may gradually drop. If the internal temperature falls below a certain level, drying performance may deteriorate. To address this issue, as previously described, delays may be implemented until a certain point, reheating may be performed periodically, or reheating may be performed after the induction operation has been interrupted. Various operational modes are described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0132] Meanwhile, while the above description describes adjusting the door opening timing within the drying process, implementation may involve checking whether induction is operating before entering the drying process, and delaying the entry into the drying process if induction operation is confirmed. This will be described in more detail later in Fig. 7.

[0133] Additionally, if the processor (130) obtains information on the expected termination of the induction (or estimated information on the expected termination), it may adjust the aforementioned door opening timing based on the obtained expected termination information. For example, if the induction is in operation or it is confirmed or predicted that the induction will terminate before the normal door opening timing, the processor (130) may determine the door opening timing in a normal manner without any additional delay.

[0134] Conversely, if induction is predicted to end at a later time than the typical time, the processor (130) may determine to delay the door opening time using any of the various adjustment methods described above. In this case, based on the predicted time information, the processor (130) may determine to use the delay method that minimizes additional energy generation among the delay methods described above, and perform the delay operation using the determined method.

[0135] And the processor (130) can control the driving device (120) to open the door during the drying process based on the acquired door opening time. At this time, the processor (130) can output a sound or message notifying the door opening just before the door opens or at a preset time (e.g., 2 to 3 seconds before).

[0136] In addition, the processor (130) may output information about the delay when the door opening time is delayed. Such output may be in the form of a sound or a message, or may be a message transmitted to a user device.

[0137] As described above, the dishwasher according to the present disclosure avoids or delays opening the door during induction operation, thereby reducing the effect of high temperature and humid air on induction, etc. due to the opening of the dishwasher.

[0138] Meanwhile, although only a simple configuration of a dishwasher (100) is illustrated and described in FIG. 2, additional configurations not illustrated may be utilized during implementation. This will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.

[0139] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0140] Referring to FIG. 3, the dishwasher (100) may include a memory (110), a driving device (120), a processor (130), a display (140), a user interface (150), a communication circuit (160), a sensor (170), and a speaker (180).

[0141] The memory (110), driving device (120), and processor (130) have been previously described in FIG. 3. Hereinafter, descriptions of the same operations will be omitted and only the added operations will be described.

[0142] The display (140) may include various types of display (140) panels, such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) panel, an AM-OLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode), an LcoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon), a QLED (Quantum dot Light-Emitting Diode), a DLP (Digital Light Processing), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel) panel, an inorganic LED panel, an LED panel, etc., but is not limited thereto. Meanwhile, the display (140) may also configure a touch screen together with a touch panel, and may also be formed of a flexible panel.

[0143] The display (140) may be implemented in a 2D square or rectangular shape, but is not limited thereto and may be implemented in various shapes such as a circle, polygon, or 3D solid shape.

[0144] The display (140) may be located in an area of ​​the outer surface of the dishwasher (100). For example, the display (140) may be located in an area of ​​the door surface of the dishwasher (100) or an area of ​​the front of the dishwasher (100), but is not limited thereto.

[0145] The display (140) may display a setting UI for selecting whether to apply the door opening delay according to the present disclosure, and a UI for receiving input on the installation status (or arrangement status), such as whether the dishwasher is adjacent to a heating device. In addition, the display (140) may display various notifications of the dishwasher.

[0146] The user interface (150) may include a button, a lever, a switch, a touch interface, etc., and the touch interface may be implemented in a way that receives input by the user's touch on the display (140).

[0147] The processor (130) can receive user commands or inputs through the user interface (150). Specifically, the processor (130) can receive user input for selecting one of a plurality of washing courses through the user interface (150).

[0148] Additionally, the user may input settings for whether to apply the door opening delay according to the present disclosure through the user interface (150), or input installation (or layout) information, such as whether the heating device is located on the top of the dishwasher. Furthermore, the user may input control commands, such as approval for the door delay, through the user interface (150). Furthermore, such input may be based not only on button input, but also on user voice commands input through a microphone (not shown), etc.

[0149] In addition, the processor (130) can receive various user inputs for controlling the dishwasher (100), such as user inputs for turning on the dishwasher (100) or adjusting the washing time, through the user interface (150).

[0150] Meanwhile, during implementation, input may be received through a user device or server via a communication circuit (160) described later rather than a user interface (150).

[0151] The communication circuit (160) may include hardware components for supporting transmission and / or reception of electrical signals between the dishwasher (100) and external electronic devices (e.g., server devices, user devices, etc.). For example, the communication circuit (160) may include at least one of a modem, an antenna, and an optical / electronic (O / E) converter. The communication circuit (160) may support transmission and / or reception of electrical signals based on various types of protocols, such as Ethernet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), wireless fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ZigBee, long term evolution (LTE), 5G NR (new radio), and / or 6G.

[0152] The dishwasher (100) can receive washing instruction information for various dishes from an external device or external server through a communication circuit (160).

[0153] The sensor (170) is a detection device for detecting the operating status of the heating device. For example, the sensor (170) may be configured as a temperature sensor. In this case, the temperature sensor may be located at the top of the dishwasher and may continuously monitor the temperature at the top of the dishwasher. Accordingly, the processor (130) may compare the temperature detected by the temperature sensor with a preset reference value to determine whether the heating device is operating. A more specific determination operation is described later in FIG. 11. In this way, when a temperature sensor is used, there is an advantage in that the operating status of a gas range, etc., that does not have a communication function can be obtained.

[0154] Additionally, the sensor (170) may be configured as a magnetic sensor. For example, since induction uses a magnetic field to perform heating operations, the magnetic field increases during operation. Accordingly, if the sensing value detected by the magnetic sensor is greater than a preset value, the processor (130) may determine that the induction is operating.

[0155] Additionally, the sensor (170) may be configured as a camera. For example, the camera may capture the front or upper area of ​​the dishwasher. If the front is captured, the processor (130) may determine that a user is performing cooking tasks around the dishwasher if the user is detected around the dishwasher for a preset period of time. In this case, since the induction stove is currently operating and likely to be used soon, the processor (130) may treat it as if the induction stove is operating, thereby delaying the door opening.

[0156] If the camera can capture the upper area, the processor (130) can use the captured image to determine the presence of a heating device and the operating status of the heating device.

[0157] Meanwhile, although the above-described sensor is described and illustrated as being a component within the dishwasher (100), it may be a separate device outside the dishwasher (100), or may be a component of another home appliance or another device separate from the dishwasher. Accordingly, the processor (130) may use another device registered to the user account that can identify the environment surrounding the dishwasher to determine whether a heating device, etc. is operating, or whether a user is located around the dishwasher.

[0158] In addition, during implementation, such judgment may be performed on a server, etc., and when the above-described environment is confirmed, the server, etc. may be implemented in a manner that notifies the dishwasher (100) of the corresponding situation.

[0159] The speaker (180) can output audio signals to the outside of the dishwasher. The speaker (180) can output multimedia playback, recording playback, various notification sounds, voice messages, etc. The dishwasher (100) may include an audio output device such as the speaker (180), but may also include an output device such as an audio output terminal. In particular, the speaker (180) can provide acquired information, information processed and produced based on acquired information, response results to user voice, operation results, etc. in voice form.

[0160] The speaker (180) can provide notification information regarding the operating status of the dishwasher, or, if the door is opened, output information notifying the door opening. In addition, if the door opening of the dishwasher is delayed, the speaker can output information indicating that the door opening is delayed.

[0161] As described above, the dishwasher according to the present embodiment delays the opening of the door when the heating device is in operation, thereby preventing damage to the heating device or a user using the heating device from occurring due to the door opening.

[0162] In the above, it has been described and illustrated that the dishwasher (100) proactively checks the operation of the heating device and adjusts the door opening state accordingly. However, the judgment and control operation as described above may be performed by a server or user device rather than the dishwasher (100), and the door opening time may be delayed in the dishwasher (100) according to a control command accordingly.

[0163] Meanwhile, while FIG. 3 illustrates a dishwasher including various additional components, some of the illustrated components may be implemented without them. Furthermore, although not illustrated, the dishwasher may also include other components.

[0164] FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining a door opening operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0165] First, with reference to Fig. 4, a typical drying process will be described. First, when the dishwasher enters the drying process, it sprays high-temperature hot water onto dishes, thereby increasing the temperature of the dishes or the interior of the dishwasher. Referring to Fig. 4, it can be confirmed that the temperature inside the dishwasher gradually increases. Meanwhile, Fig. 4 describes the expression "start of drying." This expression does not refer to the start of the drying process, but rather to the time after the high-temperature hot water spraying described above has ended during the drying process.

[0166] When the internal temperature reaches a preset temperature (e.g., final rinsing temperature, target heating temperature, drying temperature, etc.) through such heating operation, the dishwasher (100) can stop the heating operation. That is, the dishwasher can stop the operation of dispensing hot water, etc. When the discharge of hot water is stopped in this way, it can be seen that the operation of removing moisture attached to the surface of the dishes is in progress.

[0167] And since no additional heat source is provided inside the dishwasher, the internal temperature of the dishwasher gradually decreases as shown. And the dishwasher (100) opens the door after a certain period of time has passed from the above-mentioned point in time. For example, the internal temperature of the dishwasher described above is the internal temperature of the dishwasher and does not represent the temperature of the dishes themselves. That is, since the dishes can be continuously heated by the high temperature state described above, rather than opening the door to close the dishes to the outside air as soon as the internal temperature of the dishwasher reaches the preset temperature, a process of waiting for a certain period of time is performed.

[0168] Meanwhile, during implementation, it was shown and explained that a certain period of time is waited for the above-mentioned reason, but during implementation, it is also possible to open the door immediately without waiting after reaching the peak.

[0169] In this way, after a certain period of time after reaching a high temperature, when the door is opened, the internal temperature (410) is exchanged with the outside air and drops sharply.

[0170] Meanwhile, if a heating device such as induction is operating at the time the door is opened, as described above, the dishwasher may delay opening the door.

[0171] However, as explained above, since the dishwasher's drying process involves heating the dishes to a high temperature and the temperature difference between the heated dishes and the air is what causes the drying capacity to drop when the door is opened after the temperature has dropped to a certain level.

[0172] Accordingly, the present disclosure describes various methods for delaying the opening of a door while still maintaining the same drying performance as before.

[0173] First of all, the first thing to do is not to perform the delay point indefinitely, but only for a certain amount of time (or if the betting temperature is a certain temperature).

[0174] For example, the criteria for determining whether drying performance is guaranteed can be selected as experimental values ​​passed through the experiment, or as theoretical values ​​considering the condensation rate at the standby point and the evaporation rate at the opening point according to the internal temperature.

[0175] The theory of condensation can be used to explain the heat transfer relationship between the steam inside the dishwasher and the surface temperature.

[0176] [Mathematical Formula 1]

[0177]

[0178] Condensation heat transfer rate can be calculated using laminar flow Reynolds and heat transfer coefficient, and latent heat of vaporization can be calculated using steam and surface temperature.

[0179] [Equation 2]

[0180] Evaporation = Mass transfer coefficient * Area * Density difference

[0181] Here, the mass transfer coefficient can be calculated using the Sherwood number, Schmidt number, and mass diffusion coefficient.

[0182] When a temperature value (e.g., a delayed end temperature) considering the condensation rate and evaporation rate is determined, when a heating device such as an induction is in operation, the door opening is delayed, but only up to the aforementioned delayed end temperature, and the door can be opened thereafter (420, 430).

[0183] If the dishwasher is equipped with a drying module (e.g., a device that injects hot air), the drying module can be activated when the door is opened after the existing delay time. When the drying module is activated in this manner (430), a certain amount of energy is supplied to the interior, and the temperature drop is observed to be slower than when the drying module is not present.

[0184] As shown in Fig. 4, this example delays door opening for a certain period of time to ensure drying performance. However, to ensure drying performance, it is possible to proactively utilize energy, etc., rather than simply delaying the opening for a certain period of time as described above. This will be described below with reference to Figs. 5 through 7.

[0185] Meanwhile, the embodiment of FIG. 4 has the advantage of delaying only the door opening time for a certain period of time compared to the embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7, thereby not requiring or minimizing additional energy supply during the process.

[0186] Meanwhile, although FIG. 5 describes that the door is opened after the above-described temperature is reached, the user may preset the time value related to the above-described delay during implementation. For example, the dishwasher (100) may receive a time (e.g., 5 minutes) related to the door opening delay from the user, check whether the induction is operating at the time when the door needs to be opened, and delay the door opening only within the 5-minute period described above.

[0187] For example, if the door opening is delayed and the induction operation is checked periodically for 5 minutes, the door can be opened if the induction is confirmed to have ended within the 5 minutes mentioned above. If the induction is not confirmed to have ended within the 5 minutes mentioned above, the door can be opened immediately.

[0188] Meanwhile, while the above description describes opening the door in response to the end of induction, there may be a certain amount of time (e.g., several minutes) between the two actions described above during implementation. For example, even after induction cooking is complete, there is a possibility that the user will still be in front of the induction cooker to move it to another appliance. Therefore, rather than opening the door immediately after the end of induction is confirmed, the door may be opened after a certain amount of time (e.g., 1-2 minutes) has elapsed.

[0189] FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining a door opening operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0190] Referring to Fig. 5, the operation of first increasing the temperature inside the tank and then terminating the temperature increase after reaching the final rinsing temperature is the same as Fig. 4.

[0191] However, in Fig. 4, the door is opened after a certain period of time or when the temperature drops below the delay termination temperature, but there is a difference in that the door is not opened even if the internal temperature drops.

[0192] That is, the embodiment of FIG. 5 is different in that the reheating operation is performed periodically (or repeatedly) to maintain the temperature inside the oven during the induction operation. For example, if the dishwasher determines that the induction is operating during the drying cycle, the dishwasher can periodically perform the reheating operation (i.e., the operation of spraying high temperature onto the dishes) as illustrated in FIG. 5 to prevent the temperature inside the oven from falling below a certain temperature (i.e., the final rinsing temperature).

[0193] And while maintaining the above-described state, if it is confirmed that the induction operation has stopped, the dishwasher can stop the reheating operation and proceed with opening the door.

[0194] Meanwhile, the embodiment according to FIG. 5 uses additional energy compared to the conventional method through reheating. Therefore, when the dishwasher operates in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5, it may be performed with advance notice to the user or with the user's permission (or approval).

[0195] For example, at the time of reheating, the user may be informed that induction is in use, delaying door opening, and that this delay may result in additional power consumption. Furthermore, upon user confirmation, an operation similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5 described above may be performed.

[0196] Meanwhile, if the heating device is operated for a considerable period of time, the aforementioned reheating operation may consume a considerable amount of energy. Therefore, the delay described above may be performed only for a certain period of time (e.g., 20 to 30 minutes) during implementation. That is, if it is determined that the induction is still in use after a certain period of time, the door opening operation may be performed as shown in FIG. 4.

[0197] FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining a door opening operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0198] Referring to Fig. 6, the operation of first increasing the temperature inside the tank and then terminating the temperature increase after reaching the final rinsing temperature is the same as Fig. 4.

[0199] However, there is a difference in that in Fig. 4, the door is opened when the temperature drops below the delayed termination temperature, but in Fig. 6, the door is not opened. In addition, in Fig. 5, a reheating operation is performed when the temperature drops below the delayed termination temperature, but in Fig. 6, there is a difference in that no separate reheating is performed during induction operation (S610, S620).

[0200] For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the dishwasher may not perform any additional action until it obtains information that induction has ended. If it obtains information that induction has ended, the dishwasher may determine whether the internal temperature is higher or lower than the delayed termination temperature.

[0201] If the current temperature inside the refrigerator is higher than the delayed termination temperature, the door can be opened immediately. Conversely, if the current temperature inside the refrigerator is lower than the delayed termination temperature, a reheating operation can be performed as illustrated in FIG. 6 (S630). When the temperature inside the refrigerator rises to the final rinsing temperature, heating is stopped and the door can be opened after a predetermined period of time (640).

[0202] This method can minimize additional energy generation compared to the case of repeated reheating as in Fig. 5, as only one additional reheating is used. Meanwhile, in the illustrated example, reheating is shown to be performed up to the final rinse temperature once the end of the induction operation is confirmed. However, in implementation, it is also possible to reheat only up to the delayed end temperature, or only up to a point midway between the final rinse temperature and the delayed end temperature.

[0203] The operation according to the embodiment according to Fig. 6 may also result in user confirmation or notification in that additional energy (or power) is consumed compared to the method of Fig. 4.

[0204] Meanwhile, the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 have their own advantages and disadvantages. If the induction operation is expected to end (or stop) relatively quickly, the method of FIG. 5 may be advantageous. If the induction operation is expected to end relatively slowly, the method of FIG. 6 may be advantageous. Therefore, during implementation, any one of the embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 6 may be set as the default and operate, but the dishwasher may also comprehensively determine and utilize one of the aforementioned delay methods.

[0205] Meanwhile, while the above description describes determining whether the door can be opened during the drying process, implementation may also determine whether induction operation is in progress before entering the drying process, and determine whether to enter the drying process based on the induction operation. This will be described below with reference to FIG. 7.

[0206] FIG. 7 is a drawing for explaining a door opening operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0207] Referring to Figure 7, it can be confirmed that the washing process (CR1), rinsing process (CR2), and drying process (HR) are performed sequentially. Previously, Figures 4 to 6 described checking whether induction is operating after the operation to raise the internal temperature and delaying the door opening accordingly.

[0208] In Fig. 7, unlike the previous operation, when the rinsing process is completed, the operating status of a heating device such as an induction cooker can be checked. If the heating device is not operating, the drying process can be performed immediately.

[0209] If it is confirmed that a heating device such as induction is operating, the drying process can be performed when the induction operation ends.

[0210] Meanwhile, in Fig. 7, it is illustrated and explained that after the operation of raising the internal temperature after the delay of the drying process, the operation is performed in the same manner as the general drying process of Fig. 4.

[0211] However, even if the user uses and terminates induction before the drying process, the user may re-use induction after the drying process has been completed. Therefore, when implementing the method, as shown in FIG. 7, even after the drying process has been delayed, the dishwasher may check whether induction is still operating when the door is opened, and, if necessary, delay the door opening using one of the methods shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0212] That is, the embodiment of Fig. 7 may be applied individually, but a form combined with the embodiments of Figs. 4 to 6 described above may also be applied to a dishwasher.

[0213] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface window displayed on a display according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0214] Referring to FIG. 8, as described above, the operations of FIGS. 5 to 7, except for FIG. 4, may result in additional energy usage due to delayed door opening.

[0215] Accordingly, the dishwasher displays a user interface window (810) on the display (140) that allows the user to preset whether to perform the above-described door opening delay operation, and may operate in the manner of FIG. 4 or may perform the operation of FIGS. 5 to 7 according to a user command through the user interface window.

[0216] Meanwhile, during implementation, only the UI related to setting the delay action of door opening was shown, but during implementation, a UI for receiving input such as the induction arrangement type and the dishwasher arrangement type may be displayed on the display.

[0217] FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0218] Referring to FIG. 9, the dishwasher acquires the operating status of a surrounding induction cooktop (S910). For example, the dishwasher may acquire the operating status of the induction cooktop through communication with the induction cooktop or a server (or user device) connected to the induction cooktop. Alternatively, the dishwasher may acquire the operating status of the induction cooktop based on temperature information acquired from a temperature sensor located above the dishwasher.

[0219] The dishwasher determines the door opening time during the drying cycle based on the acquired operating status (S920). For example, if the induction cooktop is not operating, and the temperature inside the body reaches a preset first temperature, the dishwasher may determine the door opening time to be a preset first time period after the first temperature is reached.

[0220] If induction is in operation, the dishwasher may determine the door opening time to be a time later than the first time from the time the first temperature is reached, or delay the door opening time until the end of induction is confirmed.

[0221] Alternatively, if the door opening time is delayed and the induction operation is confirmed to have ended, the method further includes a step of performing a reheating process to allow the temperature inside the body to reach a first temperature, and the step of opening the door may open the door after a first time has passed since the reheating process has been performed.

[0222] At this time, if the door opening time is delayed and the temperature inside the body becomes lower than the second temperature which is lower than the first temperature, a reheating process can be performed so that the temperature inside the body reaches the preset first temperature.

[0223] Alternatively, the door may be opened when the door opening time is delayed and the temperature inside the body is lower than a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

[0224] Alternatively, it may be possible to check whether the induction is operating before entering the drying process, and if it is confirmed that the induction is operating, the progress of the drying process may be delayed until the induction operation is stopped.

[0225] The dishwasher controls the opening of the door based on the acquired door opening time (S930).

[0226] As described above, the control method according to the present disclosure adjusts the door opening timing according to the operating status of the heating device, thereby reducing the impact on the heating device.

[0227] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a drying cycle operation of a dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0228] Referring to FIG. 10, the dishwasher (100) can receive the operating status of the induction cooktop via communication (S1005). Here, the operating status may be information that only includes whether the induction cooktop is operating or not, and if a reservation operation, etc., is set, information regarding the reservation end time can also be obtained.

[0229] For example, if the user sets the induction to operate for 5 minutes and it is in operation, and the dishwasher can know this operation time information, the judgment operation in the operations of FIGS. 4 to 7 above can be easier. For example, as in FIG. 7, if it is known that the induction is operating before the drying cycle, but it is also known that the operation will end in 5 minutes, and if it can calculate that even if the current drying cycle is performed, the door opening will be after 5 minutes, the dishwasher can immediately proceed with the drying cycle without delay. In this case, since the induction will end operation at the actual time the door is opened, additional energy generation and delay in the dishwashing time can be prevented.

[0230] While the above description only uses reservation information, the expected end time can be obtained from an external server, not from Induction itself, or calculated using an internal learning model. Specifically, a learning model that predicts the end time of an induction based on the user's induction usage patterns can be used to internally calculate information about the user's expected end time of induction use, or it can be obtained from an external server.

[0231] After such information is obtained, it can be determined whether the dishwasher operation is a drying cycle (S1010).

[0232] If the drying process is in progress (S1010-Y), check whether the induction is operating (S1015). If not, the drying process is performed in the same manner as before, i.e., as described in Fig. 4, and the door can be opened at the door opening time determined by the method (S1050).

[0233] If the induction is in operation (S1015-Y), the door opening time can be delayed (S1020). At this time, if a separate drying module is provided in the dishwasher (S1025), the operation of the drying module can be executed (S1030).

[0234] Meanwhile, with the door open through this operation, it is checked whether the internal temperature has dropped to the delay end point (S1035).

[0235] If the temperature inside the oven drops to the end point of the delay and the induction is still operating, the delay can be ended as described in Fig. 4 and the door can be opened immediately (S1040).

[0236] And if a fan is provided, the fan can be operated to ventilate the room (S1045).

[0237] FIG. 11 is a drawing for explaining a method for determining the operating status of a heating device using a temperature sensor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0238] Referring to Figure 11, a description will be given assuming that a temperature sensor is located at the top of the dishwasher. In this case, the temperature sensor can also convert the temperature value according to the operation of the heating device located above the temperature sensor.

[0239] As shown in Fig. 11, when the heating device operates, the temperature value at the temperature sensor gradually increases. Accordingly, the dishwasher can determine that the induction is operating if the temperature of the induction is above a preset value.

[0240] Meanwhile, when induction is terminated, the temperature of the induction gradually decreases, and the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor may also decrease. However, the temperature value is still above the preset value. Since waiting until the temperature value drops below the preset value may cause a significant delay, as illustrated, the induction operation may be determined to be terminated when the temperature value drops by a certain value or more based on the highest temperature value detected within the preset period, or when the change (i.e., slope) of the sensed temperature value is negative.

[0241] Meanwhile, while a temperature sensor was used in the above, if induction is used, a magnetic sensor can be used to determine whether the induction is operating by examining changes in the magnetic value. Furthermore, during implementation, it is possible to determine the operation of the heating device by combining the temperature sensor and the magnetic sensor, and the detection value of the magnetic sensor is combined with the temperature value of the temperature sensor. In this case, if the sensing result that the magnetic value also increases when the temperature increases is confirmed, it can be confirmed that the induction is placed adjacent to the dishwasher. Conversely, if only a temperature change is confirmed and no change in the magnetic value is confirmed, it can be confirmed that a gas range is placed.

[0242] Meanwhile, when checking whether the heating device is operating through such a sensor, there is an advantage in that the present invention can operate as described above even if the installed heating device is a device that cannot perform communication. That is, in order to determine the operating status of the induction through communication as in FIG. 10, the induction must be equipped with a communication function, or even if it is equipped, a procedure such as registration of the same manufacturer or the same account is required. However, when using a temperature sensor or the like, the present disclosure can be applied even if the heating device does not have a communication device or is not from the same manufacturer.

[0243] Meanwhile, the methods according to at least some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure described above can be implemented in the form of an application that can be installed in an existing dishwasher.

[0244] Additionally, the methods according to at least some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure described above can be implemented with only a software upgrade or a hardware upgrade for an existing dishwasher.

[0245] Additionally, the methods according to at least some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure described above may also be performed through an embedded server provided in the dishwasher, or an external server of at least one of the electronic devices.

[0246] Meanwhile, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the various embodiments described above can be implemented as software including commands stored in a machine-readable storage medium that can be read by a machine (e.g., a computer). The machine is a device that can call commands stored from the storage medium and operate according to the called commands, and may include an electronic device (e.g., a dishwasher (A)) according to the disclosed embodiments. When a command is executed by a processor, the processor can perform a function corresponding to the command directly or by using other components under the control of the processor. The command may include code generated or executed by a compiler or an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium.

[0247] Here, the term 'non-transitory storage medium' means a tangible device that does not contain signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and this term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently in the storage medium and cases where it is stored temporarily. For example, a 'non-transitory storage medium' may include a buffer in which data is temporarily stored. According to one embodiment, the method according to the various embodiments disclosed in the present document may be provided as a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as a commodity. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or may be distributed online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) via an application store (e.g., Play Store™) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product (e.g., a downloadable app) may be temporarily stored or temporarily created in a device-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or an intermediary server.

[0248] The various embodiments of the present disclosure according to the claims and detailed description may be implemented through hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0249] Such software may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may store one or more computer programs (or software modules), and the one or more computer programs may include computer-executable instructions that, when individually or collectively executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the dishwasher to perform the method of disclosure.

[0250] Any such software may be stored in a storage device, such as ROM, volatile or non-volatile storage, whether erasable or rewritable, or in a memory, such as, for example, RAM, a memory chip, device or IC, or on an optical or magnetically readable medium, such as a CD, DVD, magnetic disk or magnetic tape. The storage device and the storage medium may be various embodiments of a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed, implement various embodiments of the disclosure, or a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium suitable for storing a computer program. Accordingly, various embodiments may provide a program comprising code for implementing an apparatus or method as recited in any one of the claims of the present specification, and a non-transitory machine-readable storage device storing such a program.

[0251] Although the contents of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains, and it is of course possible to make various changes in form and detail without departing from the gist of the present disclosure, which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. In dishwashers, A body having an opening into which a washing object is loaded; A door connected to one side of the above body and opening and closing the opening; A driving device for selectively opening the above door; memory that stores at least one instruction; and one or more processors executing at least one instruction; One or more of the above processors, Obtain the operating status of the heating device around the dishwasher, Based on the acquired operation state, the door opening time related to the drying process is acquired, A dishwasher that controls the driving device to open the door in relation to the drying process based on the acquired door opening time.

2. In paragraph 1, One or more of the above processors, The temperature within the body reaches a preset temperature, and a time point is determined after a preset time from the time the temperature reaches the preset temperature, Controlling the driving device so that the driving device opens the door at the determined time, A dishwasher that delays the determined door opening time when the heating device is determined to be operating at the above time.

3. In paragraph 2, One or more of the above processors, A dishwasher in which the driving device determines the point in time after the operation of the heating device has ended based on the point in time at which the driving device drives the door being delayed and the operation of the heating device having ended.

4. In paragraph 3, One or more of the above processors, A dishwasher in which the driving device performs a reheating process to allow the temperature within the body to reach the preset temperature based on the fact that the time at which the driving device drives the door is delayed and the operation of the heating device has ended, and the driving device is controlled so that the driving device opens the door after the preset time has passed after the reheating process has been performed.

5. In paragraph 2, The above preset temperature is the first temperature, One or more of the above processors, A dishwasher in which the driving device delays the time at which the door is driven, and the temperature within the body becomes lower than a second temperature lower than the first temperature, thereby performing a reheating process so that the temperature within the body reaches the first temperature.

6. In paragraph 2, One or more of the above processors, A dishwasher that controls the driving device to open the door when the door opening time is delayed and the temperature inside the body becomes lower than a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

7. In paragraph 1, One or more of the above processors, A dishwasher that checks whether the heating device is operating before entering the drying process, and if it is confirmed that the heating device is operating, delays the progress of the drying process until the operation of the heating device is stopped.

8. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a communication device for performing communication with an external device; One or more of the above processors, A dishwasher that obtains the operating status of the heating device through the heating device or a server connected to the heating device.

9. In paragraph 1, further comprising a temperature sensor located at the upper portion of the body; One or more of the above processors, A dishwasher that obtains the operating status of the heating device based on temperature information confirmed by the temperature sensor.

10. In paragraph 1, including speakers; One or more of the above processors, A dishwasher that controls the speaker to provide notification information related to the opening of the door when the door is opened or the opening time is delayed.

11. A control method for a dishwasher including a body configured to load a washing object and a door configured to open and close the body, A step of acquiring the operating status of a heating device around the dishwasher; A step of obtaining a time for opening a door related to a drying process of the dishwasher based on the obtained operation state; and A control method comprising a step of controlling the opening of the door based on the acquired door opening time.

12. In paragraph 11, The step of obtaining the point of opening the above door is: The temperature within the body reaches a preset temperature, and a time point is determined after a preset time from the time the temperature reaches the preset temperature, A control method for delaying the determined door opening time when the heating device is confirmed to be operating at the above time.

13. In paragraph 12, The step of obtaining the point of opening the above door is: A control method for determining a time point after the operation of the heating device is terminated based on the time point at which the door is opened being delayed and the operation of the heating device being terminated.

14. In paragraph 13, If it is confirmed that the door opening time is delayed and the operation of the heating device has ended, a step of performing a reheating process to allow the temperature within the body to reach the first temperature is further included; The steps for opening the above door are: A control method for opening the door after the first time has elapsed after the reheating process has been performed.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing at least one computer command that is individually or collectively executable by at least one processor of a dishwasher including a body configured to load a washing object and a door for selectively opening the body, The above control method is, A step of acquiring the operating status of a heating device around the dishwasher; A step of obtaining a door opening time related to the drying process of the dryer based on the obtained operation state; and A computer-readable recording medium comprising a step of controlling the opening of the door based on the acquired door opening time.

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