Apparatus for treating laundry and controlling method thereof

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laundry treating devices with induction heaters face challenges in efficiently drying loads without overheating or damaging them, as heat transfer through drum conduction varies with moisture content, making it difficult to apply dry control similar to electric or gas heaters.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a control method that distinguishes between normal and abnormal dry loads based on drum temperature and motor current, adjusting the induction heater output accordingly to prevent overheating, with the normal dry mode having a higher output and the abnormal dry mode reducing power to avoid damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If an induction heater is used to heat the drum for drying laundry, then heating efficiency is improved, but the risk of overheating or damaging the dry load increases due to variable heat conductivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidoverheating risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors drum temperature and motor current, using this feedback to dynamically adjust the induction heater output. When abnormal temperature rise or current patterns are detected, the system automatically reduces power to prevent load damage while maintaining efficient heating under normal conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The induction heater output is made dynamically adjustable based on real-time operating conditions. The system transitions between different power levels (normal and abnormal modes) depending on the moisture state and thermal conditions, optimizing heating efficiency while preventing overheating through continuous adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the induction heater output is reduced to prevent overheating, then load safety is improved, but drying efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload damage preventionVSAvoiddrying efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial heating action by operating at reduced power only when abnormal conditions are detected, while maintaining full power during normal drying operations. This selective application of reduced heating preserves drying efficiency for normal loads while providing protective action only when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the heating parameter (power output) based on detected conditions. By monitoring temperature rise rate and motor current, the system dynamically adjusts the induction heater output parameter to maintain optimal drying efficiency while preventing load damage through parameter adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If drum temperature is continuously monitored to detect abnormal loads, then load protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverheating detectionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses existing components (temperature sensor and motor current sensor) to self-diagnose load conditions. By analyzing patterns from these existing measurements, the system determines whether the load is abnormal without requiring additional complex sensing or control mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while enabling protection.

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

Enhances dry efficiency, ensures appropriate drying of all loads, and prevents overheating or damage, improving the performance of induction heater-based laundry treating devices.

Implementation Method 1

an induction heater configured to use the principle of induction heating is proposed. The induction heater generates an induced current to heat a conductor.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInduction heating: Induction Heating

Implementation Method 2

in case of the induction heater, heat is transferred to a dry load through drum conduction and heat conductivity varies according to a moisture state of the dry load.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

the heat of hot air heated by the electric or gas heater is transferred to a thing to be dried (hereinafter, a dry load) through convective heat transfer.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvective heat transfer: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11414811B2Apparatus for treating laundry and controlling method thereof

Publication Date: 2022.08.16 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

Disclosed are an apparatus for treating laundry with an induction heater and controlling method thereof. In a laundry treating apparatus including an induction heater, the present invention includes a first step of setting a normal dry mode and an abnormal dry mode for controlling the induction heater with a output relatively lower than that of the normal dry mode, a second step of operating the induction heater in the normal dry mode, a third step of determining whether a dry load is a normal load or an abnormal load using at least one of a temperature of a drum and a current of a motor, and a fourth step of if the dry load is determined as the abnormal load, controlling the induction heater in the abnormal dry mode.