Laundry treatment apparatus and method of controlling same
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current laundry treatment apparatuses with remote control functionality face challenges in allowing additional cycles after an initial cycle is completed without violating safety standards, as continuous remote control can lead to safety issues such as unauthorized access and door unlocking.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus and control method that maintains the door locked and external power connected after an initial cycle is completed, allowing subsequent cycles to be initiated remotely while ensuring safety standards are met by requiring manual input for remote control allowance and termination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote control is continuously maintained after cycle completion, then user convenience is improved by allowing additional cycles, but safety standards are violated due to door lock release and unauthorized access risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the door lock state based on operational context. During remote control operations, the door remains locked. After cycle completion, the door lock state is conditionally maintained or released based on whether remote control permission is active, allowing the system to adapt its safety behavior dynamically rather than following a fixed unlock-after-cycle protocol
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors the operational state and provides feedback to the door lock control. When a cycle completes, the system checks whether remote control permission is still active and uses this feedback to determine whether to maintain or release the door lock, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism that responds to current operational conditions
2Reliability
If remote control is released after one use, then safety standards are met by requiring manual re-input, but user convenience deteriorates as additional cycles cannot be initiated remotely
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining the door lock state and remote control permission active before additional cycles are initiated. This preliminary maintenance of the locked state and permission allows seamless remote control of subsequent cycles without requiring intermediate manual intervention, while still ensuring safety through the sustained lock state
3Ease of operation
If door lock is released after cycle completion, then user access is improved, but safety problems occur allowing unauthorized entry or animal access
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between cycle completion and door lock release. Instead of directly unlocking the door after cycle completion, the control unit intermediates by checking remote control permission status and conditionally maintaining or releasing the lock, preventing unauthorized access while allowing legitimate user access
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
In a laundry treatment apparatus (1000) including a cabinet (100) having an opening formed in one side thereof, a door (200) rotatably coupled to the cabinet (100) to open and close the opening, a drum (300) rotatably provided inside the cabinet (100) and configured to accommodate laundry introduced through the opening, a door lock unit (550) provided inside the cabinet (100) and configured to lock the door (200) when the door (200) closes the opening or release a locked state of the door (200) in order to open the opening closed by the door (200), a communication unit (910) configured to receive remote inputs of a user for communication with an external device, and a switch unit (950) configured to connect or disconnect an external power, a locked state of the door (200) and connection to the external power are maintained while a user maintains remote control after a preset cycle including rotation of the drum (300) is performed.