Clothing care apparatus, control method therefor, and clothing storage container

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Garments stored in storage boxes become humid due to air inside the box, requiring manual ventilation or drying, and it is difficult to identify which box a specific garment is stored in among multiple boxes.

Innovation Solution

A garment management device with a management chamber, blowing device, ventilation module, and sensor module that automatically detects humidity and circulates airflow to maintain optimal conditions, and includes a communication system to identify the location of stored garments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If garments are stored in a garment storage box for a long period, then the garments are protected from external foreign substances, but the garments become humid due to air inside the box

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from external foreign substancesVSAvoidhumidity inside storage box
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor module automatically detects humidity levels inside the storage box and triggers the ventilation module when humidity exceeds a threshold, enabling the system to self-regulate and maintain optimal storage conditions without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor module continuously monitors humidity levels and provides feedback to the control module, which adjusts the ventilation module operation accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains humidity within acceptable ranges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If multiple garment storage boxes are arranged in various locations, then storage capacity is increased, but it becomes difficult to identify which box contains a specific garment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidgarment location information
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The communication module creates and transmits digital copies of garment information (such as RFID tags or barcodes) between the storage box and mobile device, allowing users to search for and locate specific garments through electronic information rather than physically searching through multiple boxes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The communication module acts as an intermediary between the storage box and the user's mobile device, transmitting garment location and identification information wirelessly to enable easy retrieval without direct physical inspection of each box

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If garments are taken out of the storage box for ventilation or drying, then moisture is removed from the garments, but manual management is required on a regular basis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture removalVSAvoidmanual management requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically monitors humidity levels through the sensor module and activates the ventilation module when needed, eliminating the need for users to manually check and ventilate garments by performing the moisture removal function autonomously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control module receives continuous humidity feedback from the sensor module and automatically adjusts ventilation operations, creating a self-regulating system that removes moisture only when necessary without requiring user intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Automated humidity control and garment identification facilitate efficient long-term storage by maintaining optimal conditions and easy retrieval of desired garments without manual intervention.

Implementation Method 1

a blowing device configured to generate an airflow in the management chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAirflow generation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a sensor module configured to detect humidity inside the garment storage box

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHumidity detection: Hygrometer

Data Source

PatentEP4707456A1Clothing care apparatus, control method therefor, and clothing storage container
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4707456A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4707456A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4707456A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure provides a garment management device, a method of controlling the garment management device, and a garment storage box. The garment management device according to the disclosure comprising a management chamber; a blowing device generating an airflow; and a garment storage box including: a case, a garment shelf, a ventilation module, a sensor module; and at least one processor configured to, when the garment storage box is accommodated in the management chamber: establish a communication connection with the garment storage box, operate the blowing device so that the airflow is generated in the management chamber, and operate the ventilation module so that the airflow in the management chamber is circulated through the garment storage box, detect the humidity inside the garment storage box through the sensor module while the airflow is circulated, and based on the humidity, control operation of the blowing device and operation of the ventilation module.