HOME APPLIANCE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a home appliance and a control method thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

Home appliance is a generic term for electronic appliances used in homes. A refrigerator, a cooking appliance, an air conditioner, a laundry treatment apparatus or the like is an example of a home appliance.

An interface configured to receive a control command from a user and to display information to the user is provided at the above-mentioned home appliance. The interface is configured to include an input unit configured to input a control command and a display unit configured to display information.

In a conventional home appliance, a display order of information to be displayed through the display unit is previously set. In the case of, for example, a conventional laundry treatment apparatus in which information as to a plurality of courses is displayed on the display unit through manipulation of the input unit, an order of course information to be output to the display unit whenever the user presses the input unit is previously set and, as such, a plurality of pieces of course information is sequentially displayed one by one in the predetermined order whenever the user presses the input unit.

Since courses preferred by users may be different in accordance with the users, a conventional method in which course information is displayed only in a predetermined order may cause inconvenience in that the input unit should be pressed several times in order to seek a desired course.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Task

One technical task of the present disclosure devised to solve the problem lies in a home appliance and a control method thereof which are capable of determining a course preferred by the user based on the number of execution times of a control command.

Another technical task of the present disclosure devised to solve the problem lies in a home appliance including an interface capable of preferentially displaying a course preferred by the user and a control method thereof.

Another technical task of the present disclosure devised to solve the problem lies in a home appliance and a control method thereof which are capable of setting, as a default value of a specific course, a control value changed based on the number of execution times of an option command configured to change a control value set for the specific course.

Technical Solutions

The present disclosure provides a control method of a home appliance including an input unit configured to receive a control command from a user, and a display unit configured to display a first course and a second course selectable by the user and to sequentially display the courses in a predetermined display order upon receiving a request for display of the selectable courses through the input unit.

The control method may include course selection of selecting one of the courses displayed on the display unit through the input unit, execution of executing the selected course, and display order setting of changing the predetermined display order based on an accumulated number of execution times of the first course and an accumulated number of execution times of the second course.

The display order may be set such that, when the accumulated number of execution times of the first course is more than the accumulated number of execution times of the second course, the first course is displayed earlier than the second course.

The display order may be set such that, when the accumulated number of execution times of the first course is less than the accumulated number of execution times of the second course, the second course is displayed earlier than the first course.

Accumulation of accumulating a number of execution times of the first course and a number of execution times of the second course may be executed when a number of execution times of the execution is not more than a predetermined first reference number of times, and the accumulation may reset the number of execution times of the first course and the number of execution times of the second course when the number of execution times of the execution is more than the first reference number of times.

The control method may further include option selection of changing a control value set in at least one of a plurality of steps constituting a course selected in the course selection, and course re-setting of storing the changed control value as a default value of the selected course when an accumulated number of change times of the control value is more than a predetermined second reference number of times.

The present disclosure provides a home appliance including an input unit configured to receive a control command from a user, a display unit configured to display a first course and a second course selectable by the user and to sequentially display the courses in a predetermined display order upon receiving a request for display of the selectable courses through the input unit, and a controller configured to change the display order based on an accumulated number of execution times of the control command.

When a sum of a number of execution times of the first course and a number of execution times of the second course reaches a predetermined first reference number of times, the controller may compare an accumulated number of execution times of the first course and an accumulated number of execution times of the second course with each other, and may change the display order based on results of the comparison.

The display order may be set such that the first course is displayed earlier than the second course when the accumulated number of execution times of the first course is more than the accumulated number of execution times of the second course.

The display order may be set such that the second course is displayed earlier than the first course when the accumulated number of execution times of the first course is less than the accumulated number of execution times of the second course.

The input unit may be configured to receive a control command for change of a control value set in at least one of a plurality of steps of each of the courses, and the controller may be configured to store the changed control value as a default value of the course associated with the changed control value when an accumulated number of change times of the control value is more than a predetermined second reference number of times.

Advantageous Effects

The present disclosure provides a home appliance and a control method thereof which are capable of determining a course preferred by the user based on the number of execution times of a control command.

In addition, the present disclosure provides a home appliance including an interface capable of preferentially displaying a course preferred by the user and a control method thereof.

In addition, the present disclosure provides a home appliance and a control method thereof which are capable of setting, as a default value of a specific course, a control value changed based on the number of execution times of an option command configured to change a control value set for the specific course.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an example of a laundry treatment apparatus.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a control panel.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a control method of the laundry treatment apparatus.

BEST MODE FOR DISCLOSURE

Hereinafter, embodiments of a home appliance and a control method thereof will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a laundry treatment apparatus 100 includes a cabinet 1, a tub 2 disposed in the cabinet and configured to store water, and a drum 3 rotatably disposed in the tub and configured to accommodate laundry therein.

The cabinet 1 may be configured to include a housing 11 configured to provide a space accommodating the tub 2 therein, and a cover 12 configured to close an opened upper surface of the housing.

The cover 12 may include a cover body 121 fixed to the housing 11 and configured to form an upper surface of the laundry treatment apparatus, and an access port 122 (see FIG. 2) configured to extend through the cover body 121. The access port 122 may be configured to be closed by a door 13 pivotably coupled to the cover body 121.

A control panel 123 may be provided at the cover body 12. The control panel 123 may be provided with an input unit configured to receive a control signal from the user, and a display unit configured to display information associated with the laundry treatment apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tub 2 may include a tub body 21 having an empty cylindrical shape.

The tub body 21 is fixed to the cabinet 1 through a tub support 23. The tube support 23 may take the form of a bar fixed, at one end thereof, to the cover 12 or the housing 11 and fixed, at the other end thereof, to a circumferential surface of the tub body 21. A tub cover 22 is provided at an upper surface of the tub body 21. A tub access port 221 is provided at the tub cover 22 such that the tub access port 221 is disposed under the access port 122.

The tub body 21 receives water through the water supplier 24. The water in the tub body 21 may be outwardly discharged from the cabinet 1 through the drain unit 25.

The water supplier 24 may be configured to include a water supply tube 242 connected to a water supply source, a water supply valve 243 configured to control opening/closing of the water supply tube 242 in accordance with a control signal of a controller (not shown), and a chamber 241 (a water supply passage) configured to guide water supplied from the water supply tube 242 to an interior of the tub 2. FIG. 2 shows, as an example, the case in which the chamber 241 guides water to the tub body 21 through the tub access port 221.

The drain unit 25 may be configured to include a drain tube 251 configured to guide water in the tub body 21 to an exterior of the cabinet 1, and a drain valve 252 configured to control opening/closing of the drain tube in accordance with a control signal of the controller.

The drum 3 is a means configured to be disposed in the tub body 21 to provide a space for storing laundry therein, and may include a drum body 31 having an empty cylindrical shape.

A drum access port 32 may be provided at an upper surface of the drum body 31 such that the drum access port 32 is disposed under the tub access port 221. Accordingly, the user may load laundry in the drum body 31 through the access port 122, the tub access port 221, and the drum access port 32. Communication holes 33 configured to allow inner spaces of the tub body 21 and the drum body 31 to communicate with each other may be provided at a circumferential surface, a bottom surface, etc. of the drum body 31.

An agitator 34 may be further provided. The agitator 34 is provided at the bottom surface of the drum body 31 to be rotatable within the drum body 31 and is configured to form a water stream within the drum body 31.

The drum body 31 and the agitator 34 are rotatable by a driver. The driver may be configured to include a motor 35 fixed to a bottom surface of the tub body 21 and disposed at an exterior of the tub body 21, a drum shaft 36 configured to interconnect the motor and the drum body 31, and an agitator shaft 37 configured to interconnect the motor and the agitator 34.

The agitator shaft 37 is configured to extend through the drum shaft 36 in order to directly interconnect a rotor of the motor 35 and the agitator 34. In this case, a gearing 38 configured to interconnect the agitator shaft 37 and the drum shaft 36, and a clutch 39 configured to control connection between one end of the drum shaft 36 and the rotor may be provided within the drum shaft 36.

The laundry treatment apparatus 100 may supply detergent to the tub 2 through the detergent supplier 4.

The detergent supplier 4 may be configured to include a drawer 41 configured to be withdrawn from the chamber 241, a storage space 42 provided in the drawer 41 to store detergent therein, and a detergent outlet 43 configured to discharge detergent from the storage space 42 into the chamber 241.

The storage space 42 may include a first storage space 421 configured to store detergent required in a washing process (first detergent or washing detergent), and a second storage space 422 configured to store detergent required in a rinsing process (second detergent, rinsing detergent, or aromatic detergent).

In this case, the detergent outlet 43 may include a first outlet 431 configured to discharge detergent from the first storage space 421 into the chamber 241, and a second outlet 432 configured to discharge detergent from the second storage space 422 into the chamber 421. The first outlet 431 may take the form of a hole extending through the drawer 41, whereas the second outlet 432 may take the form of a passage having a water trap structure configured to discharge detergent stored in the second storage space 422 into the chamber 241 when a predetermined amount or more of water is introduced into the second storage space 422.

In addition, the water supply tube 242 may be configured to include a first water supply tube 242a and a first water supply valve 243a, which are configured to supply water to the first storage space 421, and a second water supply tube 242b and a second water supply valve 243b, which are configured to supply water to the second storage space 422.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the control panel 123. As described above, the input unit and the display unit are provided at the control panel 123.

The display unit 128 may be configured to display a control signal (or a control command) selectable through the input unit.

The input unit may be configured to include a first input unit 124 configured to input a control signal requesting supply of electric power, a second input unit 125 (a course selection unit) configured to request display of information as to a course selectable by the user, a third input unit 126 (an option selection unit) configured to select an option of a course displayed on the display unit 128 (configured to request addition, deletion and change of a control value constituting the course), and a fourth input unit 127 configured to request execution of the course selected by the user.

The second input unit 125 may be constituted by two buttons or two touch sensors disposed to face each other under the condition that the display unit 128 is disposed therebetween.

The display unit 128 may be set to display a plurality of courses executable by the laundry treatment apparatus 100 in a predetermined order.

The display unit 128 may be configured to sequentially display courses one by one in the predetermined order whenever the user presses a second input unit 125a disposed at a right side of the display unit 128 and to sequentially display courses one by one in an order reverse to the predetermined order whenever the user presses a second input unit 125b disposed at a left side of the display unit 128.

FIG. 3 shows, as an example, the case in which the display unit 128 is set to sequentially display a first course, a second course, and a third course. The first course may be set as a standard course, the second course may be set as an artificial intelligence course, and the third course may be set as a bedding course.

An option command changeable through the third input unit 126 (a changeable control value) may be, for example, the water supply amount or the process execution time, which is set for a washing process or a rinsing process, the number of repetition times of the rinsing process, the number of execution times of a spin-drying process, or the temperature of water supplied to the washing process or the rinsing process.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a control method of the laundry treatment apparatus.

When electric power is supplied to the laundry treatment apparatus 100 through the first input unit 124, the display unit 128 may display a course set to be preferentially displayed in a predetermined display order (S10).

The course may be defined by a time series combination of a plurality of processes such as a washing process, a rinsing process, a spin-drying process, etc., and each of the above-described processes may be defined by a combination of a plurality of steps such as a water supply step of supplying water to the tub, a rotation step of rotating the drum, a drainage step of draining water from the tub, etc.

In the case in which the laundry treatment apparatus 100 is configured to execute the first course and the second course and to be set such that the first course is displayed earlier than the second course, the display unit 128 may maintain a state of displaying the first course when course display step S10 starts.

The control method executes course selection step S20 during execution of the course display step S10. The course selection step S20 may include a step of manipulating the second input unit 125 by the user until a desired course is displayed on the display unit 127.

That is, when the user desires to select the second course, the user may select the second course by inputting a control signal through the normal input unit 125a or the reverse input unit 125b in a state in which the first course is displayed on the display unit 128. This is because, when the control signal is input through the normal input unit 125a in the state in which the first course is displayed on the display unit 128, the second course will be displayed on the display unit 128.

When a control signal is input through the third input unit 126 after a course has been selected through the course selection step S20, the control method may execute option selection step S30 of changing a control value set for at least one of a plurality of steps constituting the selected course.

As described above, the control value may be, for example, the water supply amount set for a process constituting the course (the water supply amount for a washing process or the water supply amount for a rinsing process), the process execution time, the number of repetition times of the process, or the temperature of water supplied in the process.

When selection of a desired course and a desired option are completed through the course selection step S20 and the option selection step S30, the control method executes execution step S40 of controlling operation of the laundry treatment apparatus 100 for the selected course in accordance with the selection option. The execution step S40 is a procedure of controlling the water supplier 24, the drain unit 25, the motor 35, the clutch 39, etc. in accordance with control values set for the course and the option.

The execution step S40 starts when the user inputs a control signal through the fourth input unit 127. After the execution step S40 starts, the control method may execute accumulation step S50.

The accumulation step S50 is a step of calculating and storing an accumulated value of the number of execution times of the first course, an accumulated value of the number of execution times of the second course, an accumulated value of the number of execution times of an option selected in the first course, and an accumulated value of the number of execution times of an option selected in the second course.

The control method may determine, through the accumulation step S50, which course has been further executed between the first course and the second course. In addition, the control method may determine, through the accumulation step S50, which control value has a higher selection or change frequency among control values in the first course and which control value has a higher selection or change frequency among control values in the second course.

After ending of the accumulation step S50, the control method may execute step S70 of determining whether or not an accumulated number of execution times of the execution step S40 is not less than a predetermined reference number of times (a first reference number of times).

Upon determining that the total number of execution times of the execution step S40 is not more than the first reference number of times, the accumulation step S50 accumulates and stores the number of execution times of the first course and the number of execution times of the second course. However, it is preferred that, upon determining that the total number of execution times of the execution step S40 is more than the first reference number of times, the accumulation step S50 be configured to reset the number of execution times of the first course and the number of execution times of the second course (both the number of execution times of the first course and the number of execution times of the second course being 0).

Meanwhile, upon determining that the total number of execution times of the execution step S40 is more than the first reference number of times (S70), the control method executes display order setting steps S71 and S72 of setting (maintaining or changing) the display order based on the accumulated number of execution times of the first course and the accumulated number of execution times of the second course.

That is, upon determining that the accumulated number of execution times of the first course is more than the accumulated number of execution times of the second course, the control method executes display order setting step S71 of setting the display order such that the first course is displayed earlier than the second course.

However, upon determining that the accumulated number of execution times of the second course is more than the accumulated number of execution times of the first course, the control method executes display order setting step S72 of setting the display order such that the second course is displayed earlier than the first course.

Each of the display order setting steps S71 and S72 may be constituted by a step of changing data as to the display order by the controller (not shown).

After ending of the display order setting step S72, the control method may execute step S80 of determining whether or not the accumulated number of change times of a control value set in each course through the option selection step S30 is more than a predetermined reference number of times (a second reference number of times).

Upon determining that the accumulated number of change times of a control value set in each course through the option selection step S30 is more than the second reference number of times, the control method may execute course re-setting steps S81 and S82 of storing the changed control value as a default value of the course associated with the changed control value.

That is, upon determining that the accumulated number of change times of one of a plurality of control values constituting the first course is more than the second reference number of times, the control method executes first course re-setting step S81 of setting the changed control value as a default value of the first course.

When the user executes setting of changing a default water supply amount (a first water supply amount) set for a specific step constituting the first course into a second water supply amount, the number of times more than the second reference number of times, the first course re-setting step S81 changes the water supply amount of the specific step constituting the first course into the second water supply amount. Accordingly, the first course starting after execution of the first course re-setting step may supply water to the tub in the second water supply amount.

Meanwhile, upon determining that the accumulated number of change times of one of a plurality of control values constituting the second course is more than the second reference number of times, the control method executes second course re-setting step S82 of setting the changed control value as a default value of the second course.

It is preferred that, when the course re-setting steps S81 and S82 are executed, the control method be configured to reset the number of change times of each control value accumulated in the re-set course. That is, it is preferred that, when the first course is re-set (S81), the number of change times of the control value causing re-setting of the first course be corrected to 0, whereas, when the second course is re-set (S82), the number of change times of the control value causing re-setting of the second course be corrected to 0. Resetting the accumulated number of change times of each control value may be executed by correcting stored data by the controller (not shown).

The display order setting steps S71 and S72 and the course re-setting steps S81 and S82 described above may be configured to be executed only when the user requests automatic course optimization. That is, the control method may be configured to determine whether or not an automatic course optimization request signal has been input through the option selection step S30 and to execute the display order setting steps S71 and S72 and the course re-setting steps S81 and S82 only when automatic course optimization has been requested.

Accordingly, the above-described laundry treatment apparatus may determine a course preferred by the user based on the number of execution times of a control command, and may preferentially display the course preferred by the user on the display unit 128. In addition, the above-described laundry treatment apparatus may change a default value of each course based on the number of change times of each control value constituting the course.

Although the above content has been given with reference to a structure of a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof, the above-described features may be applied to a variety of home appliances such as a refrigerator, a cooking appliance, an air conditioner, or the like including an input unit and a display unit.