Clothes Treating Apparatus Course Selection Based on Usage Frequency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience in selecting frequently used courses and inputting setup factors in clothes treating apparatuses, particularly due to the need to identify and rotate through multiple options, which can be time-consuming and difficult for infrequent users.

Innovation Solution

A clothes treating apparatus with a main course selection unit that displays and lights only frequently used courses based on selection frequency, allowing users to select them easily by rotation, and a sub-course input unit that displays and adjusts frequently used setup factors, reducing operation time and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If all courses are displayed on the course selection unit, then users can access any function, but operation time increases and usability decreases for infrequent users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecourse selection capabilityVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically analyzing and determining frequently used courses before user operation, then pre-displaying only those courses on the course selection unit. This eliminates the need for users to search through all available courses, reducing operation time while maintaining access to frequently needed functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The course selection interface is segmented into frequently used courses (displayed) and other courses (not displayed). This segmentation allows the system to present only relevant options to users, reducing cognitive load and operation time while preserving full functionality through the sub-course input unit for accessing non-displayed courses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If all courses are displayed on the course selection unit, then users can access any function, but ease of operation decreases due to multiple identification steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecourse selection capabilityVSAvoidcourse selection convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis to identify frequently used courses before the user needs to select, then automatically displays those courses prominently. This preliminary action eliminates the need for users to rotate through or search for courses, making operation easier while preserving full course availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system serves itself by automatically determining and displaying relevant courses based on usage patterns, rather than requiring users to manually search or select from all options. This self-service approach improves ease of operation while maintaining comprehensive course access capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If setup factors are re-input every time, then system flexibility is maintained, but operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetup factor configurationVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically determining frequently used setup factors and displaying them with their previously selected values. This allows users to quickly confirm or modify settings without re-inputting complete configurations, reducing operation time while maintaining the ability to adjust all setup factors as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Loss of time

If frequently used courses are only displayed, then operation time is reduced, but device complexity increases due to memory and control requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation timeVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback mechanisms where the memory stores usage data from previous operations, and the controller analyzes this feedback to automatically determine and display frequently used courses. This feedback loop enables intelligent course selection without requiring complex user interfaces, reducing operation time while managing complexity through automated data processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system serves itself by automatically analyzing usage patterns and determining which courses to display, eliminating the need for manual configuration or complex user setup. This self-service approach reduces operation time while keeping the control system complexity manageable through automated algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution increases user convenience by reducing operation time and allowing easier access to frequently used functions, making the apparatus more user-friendly, especially for less frequent users.

Implementation Method 1

the plurality of main courses displayed on the display unit are selectively lighted by a light emitting unit provided on a rear surface of the display unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emitting: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3170933B1Clothes treating apparatus and method for controlling same
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3170933B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3170933B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3170933B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a clothes treating apparatus and a method for controlling the same and, more particularly, to a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus comprising an operation unit, a main course selection unit having a plurality of main courses displayed around the operation unit, a memory adapted to store the number of times by which a main course has been selected through the main course selection unit, and a control unit adapted to drive a clothes treating apparatus according to the selected main course, the method comprising: a power source input step; a selection display step for displaying, on the main course selection unit, one or more main course which have been selected through the main course selection unit more than a predetermined number of times during a predetermined period; and a selection step for selecting one course among the one or more displayed main courses according to the rotation of the operation unit. The present invention can allow frequently used courses or configuration factors to be displayed in a course selection unit and a sub-course input unit, thereby increasing user convenience and shortening the time for operating the clothes treating apparatus by a user.