Laundry treating apparatus and system having the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment systems lack a method for actively utilizing the communication environment between laundry washing and drying apparatuses, where only the washing apparatus transmits information to the drying apparatus without allowing the drying apparatus to send feedback or suggestions, and users face difficulties in accessing and controlling both units, especially when they are spaced apart and have limited display interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A system where one laundry treating apparatus can identify and display the state of another, allowing users to input commands to control the other apparatus, with a communication module and display interface that enables selective display and manipulation of the drying apparatus's state from the washing apparatus, including options and execution states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the laundry washing apparatus and laundry drying apparatus are spaced apart from each other, then the installation flexibility is improved, but the user convenience deteriorates due to the hassle of accessing both apparatuses to identify their states
Solution Approach 1:
The laundry washing apparatus displays a copy of the laundry drying apparatus's state information on its own display portion. This allows users to view the state of the drying apparatus without physically accessing it, effectively copying the information display function to a more accessible location and resolving the contradiction between installation flexibility and user convenience.
2Device complexity
If the control panel is constructed as a rotary knob without a large display screen, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to display states of multiple apparatuses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display portion of the laundry washing apparatus is designed to serve multiple functions: displaying its own operational state and displaying the state of the laundry drying apparatus. This multi-functional display capability allows the simple rotary knob control panel to overcome its display limitations by universally serving both apparatuses' information needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication module acts as an intermediary that transfers state information from the laundry drying apparatus to the laundry washing apparatus's display portion. This mediator enables the simple display to show comprehensive information about both apparatuses without requiring a large screen or complex control panel.
3Device complexity
If only the laundry washing apparatus transmits information to the laundry drying apparatus, then the system simplicity is maintained, but the ability to utilize bidirectional communication deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of only the washing apparatus transmitting information to the drying apparatus, the system inverts the information flow by allowing the drying apparatus's state information to be displayed on the washing apparatus's display portion. This reverse information display approach enables bidirectional communication utilization while maintaining system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes: a cabinet; a drum; a driver rotating the drum; a control panel including a manipulation portion receiving a selection command for selecting a course or an option triggering an operation of the driver, a display portion displaying state information including at least one of a name, a selected state, or an executed state of the course or the option, and a setting portion disposed at an outside of the manipulation portion and the display portion and receiving a change command to change the option; a communication module communicating with a home appliance; and a switch disposed at the cabinet and receiving a connection command that causes the communication module to communicate with the home appliance, where the setting portion is deactivated, based on the switch receiving an input, to thereby restrict at least a part of the setting portion from receiving the change command.