Laundry Dryer Dry-Time Control Using Real-Time Moisture Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses with a dry function face challenges in efficiently controlling dry time, leading to either incomplete drying of clothes when loaded heavily or energy wastage when loaded lightly, due to fixed operation settings.
Innovation Solution
A control method that dynamically adjusts dry time based on real-time dry level sensing and laundry amount, resetting the dry time if the dry level is not reached within a preset time, and includes a dry level sensing unit, temperature sensing unit, and laundry amount sensing unit to optimize air supply and energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed dry time is set based on conventional dry courses, then the operation time of the air supply unit is simplified to control, but the dry performance deteriorates when a large amount of clothes are loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed dry time setting to a dynamically adjustable dry time that adapts based on detected laundry amount. The control unit modifies the dry time period in real-time according to the detected laundry weight, allowing the system to optimize drying performance for different load sizes while maintaining simple user interaction through automatic adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using a detection unit to measure the actual laundry amount and feeding this information back to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the dry time based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures appropriate drying time for the actual load size, thereby improving dry performance without complicating user operation.
2Device complexity
If a fixed dry time is set based on conventional dry courses, then the control system is simplified, but energy waste occurs when a small amount of clothes are loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the dry time period based on detected laundry amount, reducing the drying time when small loads are detected. This prevents the air supply unit from operating unnecessarily long periods, thereby reducing energy waste while maintaining a relatively simple control architecture through automated adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter (dry time period) based on the detected laundry amount. When a small amount of clothes is detected, the system automatically reduces the dry time parameter, optimizing energy consumption by preventing excessive operation of the air supply unit while maintaining straightforward control system design.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed dry time is used, then the air supply unit operation is easy to manage, but the total power consumption increases due to unnecessary operation
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives feedback from the detection unit regarding laundry amount and automatically adjusts the air supply unit's operation time accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to manage air supply operation easily through automatic control while reducing total power consumption by preventing unnecessary extended operation when small loads are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting laundry amount and adjusting its own operation parameters without requiring user intervention. The control unit autonomously optimizes the air supply unit's operation time based on detected conditions, making energy management effortless while reducing overall power consumption through intelligent automatic adjustment.
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 method ensures high dry performance while conserving energy by adjusting dry time according to the actual dry level and laundry load, preventing both under-drying and energy wastage.
Implementation Method 1
a dry level sensing unit for determining a dry level of the clothes
Implementation Method 2
temperature sensing unit
Implementation Method 3
an air supply unit for supplying heated-air to the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus comprises a drum receiving clothes; a fan supplying air to the drum; a heater heating the air supplied to the drum; and a dry level sensing unit determining a dry level of the clothes. A control method comprises setting a dry time; supplying air to the clothes by operating the fan or operating the fan and the heater, and controlled to be performed for the dry time; and resetting the dry time, when the dry level measured by the dry level sensing unit at a time past a preset reference time period from the start of the air supply step is less than a preset reference dry level, wherein resetting the dry time step adds more time to the reference time period.