WASHER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0188777, filed on December 17, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

FIELD

Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to a washer and a method for controlling the same.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A clothing treatment device is a home appliance that washes and/or dries clothes, towels, bedding, or the like. Among types of washers as clothing treatment devices, there are a drum-type washer that washes laundry by rotating a rotating tub to repeat raising and dropping of laundry, and a pulsator-type washer that washes laundry using water flow generated by a pulsator when a rotating tub rotates.

A clothing treatment device may generally be disposed in a location that is more affected by external temperature compared to other home appliances. Therefore, in winter when the temperature drops below freezing, freezing may occur in a water supply pipe supplying water to the clothing treatment device or freezing of residual water remaining in the clothing treatment device may occur.

To prevent freezing around the clothing treatment device in winter, various freezing prevention methods are being studied, such as continuously opening a water supply valve during cold waves.

The above-described information may be provided as related art for the purpose of helping understanding of the disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the foregoing is applicable as background art in relation to the disclosure.

SUMMARY

A washer according to an embodiment may include a housing, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, a drum to be disposed within the housing, a water supply valve to be disposed to supply water to the drum, memory including one or more storage media storing instructions, and at least one processor including a processing circuit. The instructions may, based on being executed individually or collectively by the at least one processor, cause the washer to perform at least one operation. The at least one operation may include determining whether a temperature measured based on the temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a reference temperature, based on the measured temperature being equal to or lower than the reference temperature, opening the water supply valve for a first time to supply water of a first amount, and performing a defrosting operation of a defrosting mode based on the supply of water measured by the flow sensor being a second amount, which is less than the first amount.

A method for controlling a washer according to an embodiment may include determining whether a temperature measured based on a temperature sensor is equal to or lower than a reference temperature, based on the measured temperature being equal to or lower than the reference temperature, opening a water supply valve for a first time to supply water of a first amount, and performing a defrosting operation of a defrosting mode based on the supply of water measured by the flow sensor being a second amount, which is less than the first amount.

Effects achievable in example embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, but other effects not mentioned may be apparently derived and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments of the disclosure pertain, from the following description. In other words, unintended effects in practicing embodiments of the disclosure may also be derived by one of ordinary skill in the art from example embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the exterior of a washer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a washer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram illustrating a washer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating an upper configuration of a washer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart schematically illustrating overall freezing detection and removal operations of a washer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart illustrating a freezing detection mode operation of a washer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart illustrating a defrosting mode operation of a washer according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a control flowchart illustrating a defrosting mode operation of a washer according to an embodiment.

Reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in the following description, and specific examples that may be practiced are shown as examples within the drawings. Other examples may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the various examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the disclosure are merely exemplified herein with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, to describe the principle of the disclosure, and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principle of the disclosure may be implemented in any appropriately disposed system or device.

It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technological features set forth herein to particular embodiments and include various changes, equivalents, or replacements for a corresponding embodiment.

With regard to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements.

It is to be understood that a singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the things, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

As used herein, each of such phrases as "A or B," "at least one of A and B," “at least one of A or B,” "A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include all possible combinations of the items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases.

The term "and/or" may denote a combination(s) of a plurality of related components as listed or any of the components.

As used herein, such terms as "1st" and "2nd," or “first” and "second" may be used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and does not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance or order).

It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or “communicatively”, as “coupled with,” "coupled to," "connected with," or “connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), it means that the element may be coupled with the other element directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.

It will be further understood that the terms "comprise" and/or "have,” as used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

It will be understood that when a component is referred to as “connected to,” “coupled to”, “supported on,” or “contacting” another component, the components may be connected to, coupled to, supported on, or contact each other directly or via a third component.

Throughout the specification, when one component is positioned "on" another component, the first component may be positioned directly on the second component, or other component(s) may be positioned between the first and second component.

A washer according to various embodiments may perform washing, rinsing, spinning, and drying cycles. The washer is an example of the clothing treatment device. The clothing treatment device encompasses devices for washing clothes (objects to be washed or objects to be dried), devices for drying clothes, and devices capable of performing both washing and drying of clothes.

The washer according to various embodiments may include a top-loading washer in which a laundry inlet for inserting or withdrawing laundry faces upward, or a front-loading washer in which a laundry inlet faces forward. The washer according to various embodiments may include a washer having various loading schemes other than the top-loading and front-loading washers described above.

The top-loading washer may wash laundry using a water flow generated by a rotating body such as a pulsator. The front-loading washer may wash laundry by repeatedly raising and dropping the laundry by rotating the drum. The front-loading washer may include a washer-dryer capable of drying laundry accommodated in the drum. The washer-dryer may include a hot air supply device for supplying high-temperature air into the drum and a condensation device for removing moisture from the air discharged from the drum. For example, the washer-dryer may include a heat pump device. The washer according to various embodiments may include a washer of a washing method other than the above-described washing method.

The washer according to various embodiments may include a housing accommodating various components therein. The housing may be provided in the form of a box having a laundry inlet formed in one side thereof.

The washer may include a door for opening and closing the laundry inlet. The door may be rotatably mounted on the housing by a hinge. At least a portion of the door may be provided to be transparent or translucent so that the inside of the housing is visible.

The washer may include a tub provided inside the housing to store water. The tub may be provided in a substantially cylindrical shape with a tub opening formed in one side thereof, and may be disposed inside the housing so that the tub opening is disposed to correspond to the laundry inlet.

The tub may be connected to the housing by a damper. The damper may absorb vibrations generated when the drum rotates and attenuate vibrations transferred to the housing.

The washer may include a drum provided to accommodate laundry.

The drum may be disposed inside the tub so that a drum opening provided in one side corresponds to the laundry inlet and the tub opening. The laundry may be accommodated in the drum or withdrawn from the drum by sequentially passing through the laundry inlet, the tub opening, and the drum opening.

The drum may perform each operation according to washing, rinsing, and/or spinning cycles while rotating inside the tub. A plurality of through holes may be formed in the cylindrical wall of the drum to allow water stored in the tub to flow into or out of the drum.

The washer may include a driving device configured to rotate the drum. The driving device may include a driving motor and a rotation shaft for transferring the driving force generated by the driving motor to the drum. The rotating shaft may be connected to the drum through the tub.

The driving device may perform each operation according to washing, rinsing, and/or spinning, or drying cycle by rotating the drum forward or backward.

The washer may include a water supply device configured to supply water to the tub. The water supply device may include a water supply pipe and a water supply valve provided in the water supply pipe. The water supply pipe may be connected to an external water supply source. The water supply pipe may extend from an external water supply source to the detergent supply device and/or the tub. Water may be supplied to the tub via the detergent supply device. Water may be supplied to the tub without passing through the detergent supply device.

The water supply valve may open or close the water supply pipe in response to an electrical signal from the controller. The water supply valve may allow or block water from being supplied from an external water supply source to the tub. The water supply valve may include, e.g., a solenoid valve that is opened and closed in response to an electrical signal.

The washer may include a detergent supply device configured to supply detergent to the tub. The detergent supply device may include a manual detergent supply device in which the user needs to put a detergent to be used for each washing, and an automatic detergent supply device in which a large amount of detergent is stored and a predetermined amount of detergent is automatically put into the washing. The detergent supply device may include a detergent container for storing the detergent. The detergent supply device may be configured to supply detergent into the tub during a water supply process. Water supplied through the water supply pipe may be mixed with the detergent via the detergent supply device. Water mixed with the detergent may be supplied into the tub. Detergent is used as a term encompassing a detergent for pre-washing, a detergent for main washing, a fabric softener, a bleach, or the like, and the detergent container may be divided into a pre-washing detergent storage area, a main washing detergent storage area, a fabric softener storage area, and a bleach storage area.

The washer may include a drain device configured to discharge water contained in the tub to the outside. The drain device may include a drain pipe extending from a lower portion of the tub to the outside of the housing, a drain valve provided in the drain pipe to open and close the drain pipe, and a pump provided on the drain pipe. The pump may pump water from the drain pipe to the outside of the housing.

The washer may include a control panel disposed on one lateral side of the housing. The control panel may provide a user interface for the user and the washer to interact with each other. The user interface may include at least one input interface and at least one output interface.

At least one input interface may convert sensory information received from the user into an electrical signal.

The at least one input interface may include a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or a course selection button), and a washing/rinsing/spinning setting button. The at least one input interface may include, e.g., a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone.

The at least one output interface may visually or audibly transfer information related to the operation of the washer to the user.

For example, the at least one output interface may transfer information related to the washing course, the operation time of the washer, and the washing setting/rinsing setting/spinning setting to the user. The information about the operation of the washer may be output as a screen, an indicator, a voice, etc. The at least one output interface may include, e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, a speaker, or the like.

The washer may include a communication module for wired and/or wireless communication with an external device.

The communication module may include at least one of a short-range communication module or a long-range communication module.

The communication module may transmit data to an external device (e.g., a server, a user device, and/or a home appliance) or may receive data from the external device. For example, the communication module may establish communication with a server and/or the user device and/or a home appliance, and transmit and receive various data.

To that end, the communication module may support establishing a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between external devices and performing communication through the established communication channel. According to an embodiment, the communication module may include a wireless communication module (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external device via a first network (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth^TM, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or may be implemented as multiple components (e.g., multiple chips) separate from each other.

The short-range wireless communication module may include, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth communication module, a BLE communication module, a near field communication module, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication module, a Wi-Fi direct (WFD) communication module, an ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, and a microwave (uWave) communication module.

The long-range communication module may include a communication module that performs various types of long-range communication, and may include a mobile communication unit. The mobile communication unit transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server over a mobile communication network.

According to an embodiment, the communication module may communicate with an external device such as a server, a user equipment, another home appliance, or the like through an access point (AP). The AP may connect the local area network (LAN) to which the washer or the user equipment is connected to the wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected. The washer or the user device may be connected to the server through the wide area network (WAN). The controller may control various components (e.g., a driving motor and a water supply valve) of the washer. The controller may control various components of the washer to perform at least one cycle including water supply, washing, rinsing, and/or spinning according to the user input. For example, the controller may control the driving motor to adjust the rotational speed of the drum, or control the water supply valve of the water supply device to supply water to the tub.

The controller may include hardware such as a CPU or memory, and software such as a control program. For example, the controller may include an algorithm for controlling operations of the components in the washer, at least one memory for storing data in the form of a program, and at least one processor for performing the above-described operations using the data stored in the at least one memory. The memory and at least one processor may be implemented as separate chips, respectively. The at least one processor may include at least one or more processor chips or may include one or more processing cores. The memory may include one or more memory chips or may include one or more memory blocks. Further, the memory and the at least one processor may be implemented as a single chip.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the exterior of a washer according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a washer according to an embodiment;

All features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other drawings of the disclosure. Likewise, all features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIGS. 3 to 8 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the washer 1 may include a housing 10 for receiving various components therein. The housing 10 may have an overall hexahedral shape. The housing 10 may include an opening formed in one side thereof. Two or more of the sides of the housing 10 may be integrally formed. Each side of the housing 10 may be separately manufactured and assembled. The housing 10 may be, e.g., press-molded with an iron plate material or injection-molded with a resin material.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a door 20 for opening and closing the corresponding opening in a portion corresponding to the opening of the housing 10. The door 20 may be rotatably coupled to a hinge fixed to one side of the housing 10. For example, at least a portion of the door 20 may be configured to be transparent or translucent so as to be visible inside. The user may open and close the door 20 to put the laundry through an opening 11 into the drum 40 positioned inside the housing 10 or withdraw the laundry from the drum 40. For example, the door 20 may be locked by a locking device (not shown) so as not to be opened while the washer 1 is running. According to an embodiment, the door 20 may include a door frame 21 and a glass member 22. The glass member 22 may be formed of, e.g., a transparent tempered glass material to see through the inside of the housing 10, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a tub 30 fixedly disposed inside the housing 10. The tub 30 may have a substantially cylindrical shape with one side open. A tub opening 31 may be provided in the front side of the tub 30 at a position corresponding to the opening of the housing 10. The tub 30 may store washing water. A drain port 32 for draining washing water may be disposed under the tub 30. The drain port 32 may be connected to, e.g., the drain device 80.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a damper 12. The damper 12 may be provided to connect the housing 10 and the tub 30. One side of the damper 12 may be fixed to the inner side of the housing 10 and the other side of the damper 12 may be fixed to the tub 30. The damper 12 may be disposed to attenuate vibration by absorbing vibration energy transferred to the tub 30 and/or the housing 10 when the drum 40 rotates.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a drum 40 provided inside the tub 30. The drum 40 may have a substantially cylindrical shape with one side open. A front plate 43 and a rear plate 44 may be disposed on the front side and the rear side, respectively, of the drum 40. The front plate 43 may be provided with a drum opening at a position corresponding to the opening of the housing 10 and the tub opening 31 of the tub 30. The drum 40 may receive laundry. The drum 40 may receive rotational power from the driving device 60 and rotate inside the tub 30. The drum 40 may perform washing, rinsing, and/or spinning while rotating inside the tub 30.

According to an embodiment, the drum 40 may include a lifter 41 and/or a plurality of through holes 42. For example, the lifter 41 may lift the laundry while the drum 40 rotates so that the laundry repeatedly rises and falls, thereby evenly washing laundry on several surfaces thereof. The through hole 42 may be, e.g., a passage formed so that the washing water received in the tub 30 flows into the drum 40 or the washing water inside the drum 40 is discharged to the outside. According to an embodiment, the lifter 41 or the through hole 42 may be omitted.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a control panel 50 that supports interaction between the user and the washer 1. According to an embodiment, the control panel 50 may be disposed at an upper end of the front side of the housing 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. According to an embodiment, the control panel 50 may include an input unit 51 and a display unit 52.

The input unit 51 may include, e.g., any type of user input means for obtaining a user input for controlling the washer 1. The user may input power on/off, washing setting information (e.g., operation start/stop, course selection, time selection, etc.) of the washer 1 through the input unit 51. For example, the input unit 51 may be a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, or a touch switch, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the input unit 51 may be in the form of a jog shuttle that the user may grip and rotate. According to an embodiment, the input unit 51 may include an infrared sensor. The user may remotely input the setting information through the remote control, and the input setting information may be received by the input unit 51 as an infrared signal. According to an embodiment, the input unit 51 may include a microphone. Setting information by the user's voice may be obtained through a microphone.

The display unit 52 may display various washing setting information and/or operation state information about the washer 1 input from the user. The display unit 52 may include various types of display panels such as an LCD, an LED, an OLED, a QLED, and a micro LED. For example, the display unit 52 may be implemented as a touch screen with a touch pad provided on the front side thereof, but the disclosure is not limited to a specific type of display means. According to an embodiment, the display unit 52 may include any type of audio display means including a speaker, and may display each of the above-described information as an auditory signal through the audio display means. According to an embodiment, the display unit 52 may operate to audibly provide the user with information for guiding the user's input and/or information related to the ongoing process.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a driving device 60 for rotating the drum 40. The driving device 60 may include a motor 61 and a driving shaft 62 for transferring the driving force generated by the motor 61 to the drum 40. The motor 61 may include a fixed stator 611 and a rotor 612 that rotates by electromagnetically interacting with the stator 611 to convert an electric force into a mechanical rotational force. The rotational force generated by the motor 61 may be transferred to the drum 40 through the driving shaft 62. The driving shaft 62 may be press-fitted into the rotor 612 of the motor 61 to rotate together with the rotor 612. The driving shaft 62 may, e.g., partially penetrate the rear wall of the tub 30 to connect the drum 40 and the motor 61. The driving device 60 may rotate the drum 40 forward or backward to perform washing, rinsing, and/or spinning operations.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a water supply device 70 for supplying washing water to the drum 40 and/or the tub 30, and a detergent supply device 13. The water supply device 70 may include at least one water supply pipe 71 and at least one water supply valve 72. The at least one water supply pipe 71 may be disposed to supply washing water into the tub 30 using an external water supply source. One of the at least one water supply pipe 71 may be connected to a detergent supply device 13 disposed in the housing 10. Here, the detergent supply device 13 may include at least one detergent container partitioned into a plurality of spaces inside, and a detergent, a rinsing agent (or fabric softener), or the like may be put into each space of the detergent container. The washing water passing through the detergent supply device 13 may, e.g., be supplied to the tub 30 together with the detergent (or rinsing agent) through the detergent supply pipe 131. Another one of the at least one water supply pipe 71 may be directly connected to the tub 30. For example, the washing water supplied through the water supply pipe 71 directly connected to the tub 30 may be directly supplied to the tub 30 without going through an intermediate component such as the detergent supply device 13.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a drain device 80 for draining the washing water received in the drum 40 and/or the tub 30. The drain device 80 may include a drain valve 81, a first drain pipe 82, a second drain pipe 83, and a pump chamber 84. The drain device 80 may be disposed, e.g., under the tub 30 to discharge the washing water discharged from the tub 30 to the outside of the washer 1.

According to an embodiment, the drain valve 81 may be provided to open and close the drain port 32. When the drain valve 81 is opened, the washing water received in the tub 30 may flow through the drain port 32 to the drain device 80. According to an embodiment, the first drain pipe 82 and the second drain pipe 83 may form a flow path that guides washing water to be discharged to the outside. For convenience of description, the upper stream of the pump chamber 84 is referred to as the first drain pipe 82 and the lower stream is referred to as the second drain pipe 83. The first drain pipe 82 and the second drain pipe 83 may be integrally formed. The first drain pipe 82 may have, e.g., one end connected to the drain port 32 and the other end connected to the pump chamber 84. The washing water may move into the pump chamber 84 along the first drain pipe 82. The second drain pipe 83 may have, e.g., one end connected to the pump chamber 84 and the other end connected to the outside of the washer 1.

Accordingly, the washing water passing through the pump chamber 84 may be discharged to the outside of the washer 1 along the second drain pipe 83.

According to an embodiment, the pump chamber 84 may be disposed under the tub 30 to store washing water drained from the tub 30. Inside the pump chamber 84, e.g., a drain pump 841 for discharging the stored washing water to the outside may be disposed. The washing water pumped by the drain pump 841 may be guided to the outside of the housing 10 through the second drain pipe 83.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a balancer 150. The balancer 150 may include, e.g., a balancer housing 151 forming an annular channel 151a and a plurality of mass bodies 153 disposed on the annular channel 151a to perform a balancing function of the drum 40 while moving along the annular channel 151a. The plurality of mass bodies 153 may have, e.g., a ball shape (a spherical shape). The plurality of mass bodies 153 may move in a direction opposite to the direction of the eccentricity generated in the drum 40 by the laundry when the drum 40 rotates, compensating for the eccentricity generated by the laundry.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram illustrating a washer according to an embodiment.

All features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIG. 3 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other drawings of the disclosure. Likewise, all features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 and 4 to 8 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a washer according to an embodiment of the disclosure in terms of functions and controls.

The washer 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 may be substantially the same as the washer (e.g., the washer 1 of FIG. 1) illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The configuration of the washer 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 may be included in the washer 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or similar components.

Referring to FIG. 3, a washer 1 may include at least one of an input unit 51, a communication unit 260, a sensor unit 270, a controller 220, a driving device 60, a water supply valve 72, a drain valve 81, a drain pump 841, or a display unit 52.

According to an embodiment, the input unit 51 may include any type of user input means for obtaining setting information from the user for operation control of the washer 1. Various user inputs obtained through the input unit 51 may be transferred to at least one processor 222 described below. According to an embodiment, various user inputs obtained through the input unit 51 may be transmitted to the outside through the communication unit 260 to be described below, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a communication unit 260 that supports signal transmission/reception to/from the outside. According to an embodiment, the communication unit 260 may receive and/or transmit a wired/wireless signal to/from an external wired/wireless communication system, an external server, and/or other devices according to a predetermined wired/wireless communication protocol. According to an embodiment, the communication unit 260 may include one or more modules for connecting the washer 1 to one or more networks. According to an embodiment, the communication unit 260 may include at least one of a mobile communication module, a wired/wireless Internet module, a short-range communication module, and/or a location information module. The communication unit 260 may include a communication circuit.

According to an embodiment, the mobile communication module may transmit/receive wireless signals with at least one of an external base station, an external UE, and an external server through the mobile communication network according to any communication protocol among various communication protocols for mobile communication. The wireless signals may include various types of data signals. According to an embodiment, the wireless signals may include voice call signals, video call signals, and text/multimedia message signals, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the wired/wireless Internet module may support wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi direct, digital living network alliance (DLNA), wireless broadband (WiBro), world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), long term evolution (LTE), or long term evolution-advanced (LTE-A), but is not limited thereto. According to an embodiment, the wired/wireless Internet module of the communication unit 260 may transmit/receive data according to at least one wired/wireless Internet technology among Internet technologies not listed above.

The short-range communication module may be intended for, e.g., short-range communication and may support short-range communication using at least one of Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultra-wideband (UWB), ZigBee, near-field communication (NFC), Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, or wireless universal serial bus (USB) technology. The short-range communication module may support, e.g., wireless communication between the washer 1 and a wireless communication system, between the washer 1 and another device, or between the washer 1 and a network in which the other device is positioned through a short-range wireless communication network.

The location information module may be, e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) module or a Wi-Fi module as a module for obtaining the location of the washer 1. In a case that the washer 1 utilizes the GPS module, the washer 1 may receive information about the location of the washer 1 using the signal transmitted from the GPS satellite. In a case that the washer 1 utilizes the Wi-Fi module, the washer 1 may receive information about the location of the washer 1 based on information about a wireless access point (AP) that transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from the Wi-Fi module.

According to an embodiment, the communication unit 260 may receive the configuration data signal input by the user on the mobile terminal of the user in the form of a wireless signal according to a predetermined wireless communication protocol. According to an embodiment, the communication unit 260 may receive information and/or a command for controlling the operation of the washer 1 from an external server in the form of a signal according to a predetermined wired/wireless communication protocol. The communication unit 260 may transfer various received signals to the processor 222 to be described below. According to an embodiment, the communication unit 260 may transmit various data generated or obtained on the washer 1 in the form of a wired/wireless signal according to a predetermined wired/wireless communication protocol, e.g., to a mobile terminal of the user or an external server.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include a sensor unit 270 for detecting an operating state and/or an internal environment of the washer 1. According to an embodiment, the sensor unit 270 may include at least one of a water level sensor 271, a current sensor 272, a door sensor 273, a speed sensor 274, a temperature sensor 275, a vibration sensor 276, a load sensor 277, or a flow sensor 278, but this is exemplary and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the water level sensor 271 is a sensor provided to detect the water level in a tub (e.g., the tub 30 of FIG. 2). For example, the water level sensor 271 may be positioned on the lower side of the tub 30 to detect a pressure difference according to the water level of water introduced into the tub 30 as an electrical signal. According to an embodiment, the water level sensor 271 may be provided to detect a water level in a water supply circumstance. According to an embodiment, the water level sensor 271 may be provided to detect drainage progress in case of draining water at the end of a washing cycle or a rinsing cycle. The water level sensor 271 may transfer an electrical signal related to the water level in the tub 30 to the at least one processor 222.

According to an embodiment, the current sensor 272 may be provided to detect current flowing through a motor (e.g., the driving device 60 of FIG. 2). The electrical signal related to the current value of the driving device 60 generated by the current sensor 272 may be transferred to the at least one processor 222. The at least one processor 222 may detect a load on the driving device 60 while the driving device 60 rotates based on the current sensor 272, and estimate or calculate a weight of clothes received in a drum (e.g., the drum 40 of FIG. 2) based on this.

According to an embodiment, the door sensor 273 may be provided to determine whether the door (e.g., the door 20 of FIG. 2) is closed before the at least one processor 222 performs the washing operation. An electrical signal regarding whether to open or close the door 20 generated by the door sensor 273 may be transferred to the at least one processor 222.

According to an embodiment, the speed sensor 274 may be provided to detect the rotational speed, the rotational angle, or the rotational direction of the driving device 60 or the drum 40. According to an embodiment, the speed sensor 274 may use, e.g., a scheme of detecting an on/off signal of the hall sensor adjacent to the position of the rotor while the driving device 60 is running. According to an embodiment, the speed sensor 274 may use a scheme of measuring the magnitude of the current applied to the driving device 60 while the drum 40 rotates. An electrical signal regarding the rotational speed, the rotational angle, or the rotational direction of the drum 40 generated by the speed sensor 274 may be transferred to the at least one processor 222.

According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor 275 may be provided to detect the ambient environment temperature of the washer 1 or the temperature of the internal components, or to detect the temperature of the washing water in the tub 30. The temperature sensor 275 may be implemented as, e.g., a thermistor, which is a type of resistor using the property that the resistance of a material changes according to the temperature. The electrical signal related to the temperature generated by the temperature sensor 275 may be transferred to the at least one processor 222.

According to an embodiment, the vibration sensor 276 may be provided to detect the amount of vibration of the drum 40 while the drum 40 rotates. The vibration sensor 276 may be, e.g., an IMU sensor. The vibration sensor 276 may detect the amount of vibration of the drum 40 during the spinning operation. The vibration-related signal obtained by the vibration sensor 276 may be used to estimate or measure the balance state of the laundry inside the drum 40.

According to an embodiment, the vibration sensor 276 may be disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the drum 40 to sense vibration of the drum 40. For example, the vibration sensor 276 may be disposed in a front direction and/or rear direction of the drum 40. Here, the front direction of the drum 40 may refer to a direction toward the front plate (e.g., the front plate 43 of FIG. 2), and the rear direction of the drum 40 may refer to a direction toward the rear plate (e.g., the rear plate 44 of FIG. 2).

According to an embodiment, the flow sensor 278 may be disposed to detect a flow rate of water supplied through the water supply valve 72. The flow sensor 278 may operate based on, e.g., detecting pressure, velocity, or displacement of fluid. The flow sensor 278 may include a thermal, mechanical, or optical sensing element that generates a signal according to flow characteristics. The flow sensor 278 may be disposed on an upper side of the drum 40. The flow sensor 278 may be disposed on a flow path of a water supply pipe 71. A signal regarding flow rate generated by the flow sensor 278 may be transferred to the at least one processor 222. The flow sensor 278 may be connected to transmit/receive signals with the at least one processor 222.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include the controller 220 for controlling the overall operation of the washer 1. The controller 220 may include memory 221 for storing or recording a program and/or data for controlling each component of the washer 1, and at least one processor 222 for generating a control signal for controlling each component of the washer 1 according to the program and/or data stored in the memory 221 and information obtained from each of the other components.

According to an embodiment, the memory 221 may store data supporting various operations of the washer 1. The memory 221 may store, e.g., a plurality of application programs (or applications) used in the washer 1, or data or instructions for operating the washer 1. At least some of these applications may be downloaded from an external server through wireless communication. Further, at least some of the application programs may be stored in the memory 221 from the time of shipping to perform default functions of the washer 1.

According to an embodiment, the memory 221 may store various data that may be used to control the operation of each component of the washer 1. The memory 221 may include, e.g., at least one storage medium storing a plurality of application programs used in the washer 1, data for operation control of the washer 1, and instructions. The instructions stored in the memory 221 may, based on being executed by the at least one processor 222, cause the washer 1 to perform at least one operation (e.g., at least one of the operations described in connection to FIGS. 5 to 8).

According to an embodiment, the memory 221 may store at least one program for processing and control of the at least one processor 222, and may store input and/or output data. The memory 221 may store at least one artificial intelligence (AI) model. The memory 221 may include at least one of a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (e.g., secure digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD) memory, random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disc, or an optical disc. According to an example, a web storage or a cloud server that performs a storage function on the Internet may be operated by the washer 1.

According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may receive various input/setting information, such as power on/off of the washer 1, washer operation setting information (e.g., operation start/stop, course selection, time selection, etc.), or other various control information from the input unit 51 and/or communication unit 260. The at least one processor 222 may obtain various sensing information, e.g., information about the water level in the tub 30 sensed by the water level sensor 271, information about the current flowing through the driving device 60 sensed by the current sensor 272, information indicating whether the door is opened or closed as sensed by the door sensor 273, information about the rotational speed of the driving device 60 or the drum 40 sensed by the speed sensor 274, and information about the internal water temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 275, from the sensor unit 270. The at least one processor 222 may obtain, e.g., information indicating the amount of vibration of the drum 40 from the vibration sensor 276 to estimate or obtain the eccentricity value of the drum 40. The at least one processor 222 may, e.g., obtain information about weight additionally applied to the washer 1 including a weight of the washer 1 itself from the load sensor 277. The at least one processor 222 may, e.g., obtain information about a flow rate of water supplied to the washer 1 through the water supply valve 72 from the flow sensor 278.

According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may generate an operation control command for each component of the washer 1 based on various information received from the input unit 51, the communication unit 260, and/or the sensor unit 270. According to an embodiment, the processor 222 may control each of the related components for performing at least one of the wash cycle, the rinse cycle, the spin cycle, or the dry cycle. The at least one processor 222 may control the operation of, e.g., the driving device 60, the water supply valve 72, the drain valve 81, and/or the drain pump 841 to control the performance of at least one of the wash cycle, the rinse cycle, the spin cycle, or the dry cycle. According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may rotate the drum 40 by controlling the driving of the driving device 60. For example, the at least one processor 222 may control opening and closing of the water supply valve 72 to adjust the amount of water supplied to the drum 40 and/or the tub 30. For example, the at least one processor 222 may control the drain valve 81 and/or the drain pump 841 to drain wash water in the drum 40 and/or a tub 30. According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may continuously obtain information from the input unit 51, the communication unit 260, and/or the sensor unit 270 while performing at least one of a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, a spin cycle, or a drying cycle, and may continuously update and control operation of each component based on the obtained information.

According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may generate a command to control whether and how to display information through the display unit 52 based on various information received from the input unit 51, the communication unit 260, and/or the sensor unit 270.

According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may determine whether an ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a reference temperature using information about a temperature of a surrounding environment. For example, the at least one processor 222 may measure an ambient temperature based on the temperature sensor 275. For example, the at least one processor 222 may receive information about an ambient temperature from another electronic device through the communication unit 260.

According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may periodically or aperiodically measure an ambient temperature or receive information about an ambient temperature from another electronic device through the communication unit 260.

According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may perform a freezing detection mode based on an ambient temperature being equal to or lower than a reference temperature. The at least one processor 222 may perform a freezing detection mode based on a measured temperature measured based on the temperature sensor 275 being equal to or lower than a reference temperature.

In the freezing detection mode, the at least one processor 222 may perform control to open the water supply valve 72 for a short time to supply a small amount of water through a water supply pipe. For example, the at least one processor 222 may perform an operation of opening the water supply valve 72 for a first time to s\upply water of a first amount. Based on the water supply valve 72 being opened, e.g., water may be supplied at room temperature. The operation of supplying water of the first amount may be performed repeatedly.

The first amount may be a small amount, e.g., about 50 mL to 150 mL, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the at least one processor 222 may perform the operation of supplying water of the first amount at intervals of 2 minutes to 3 minutes.

According to an embodiment, information about the first amount may be pre-stored in the memory 221. The information about the first amount may be estimated using a time when the water supply valve 72 is opened and an amount of water supplied per opening time of the water supply valve 72.

According to an embodiment, the information about the first amount may be separately calculated and stored in the memory 221 after the washer 1 is installed. The at least one processor 222 may estimate or measure a flow rate according to an opening time of the water supply valve 72 based on the flow sensor 278 in case that the washer 1 is operated at a temperature without freezing risk. The amount of water supplied per opening time of the water supply valve 72 measured in this way may be stored in the memory 221.

According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may measure a fluid quantity of water flowing in during progress of the freezing detection mode based on the flow sensor 278. The at least one processor 222 may receive information about flow rate from the flow sensor 278 after opening a first water supply valve 72a to supply the first amount to the water supply pipe 71. Here, the flow rate measured based on the flow sensor 278 is referred to as a second amount.

According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may determine whether freezing occurs by comparing the first amount and the second amount. The at least one processor 222 may perform a defrosting mode based on determining that freezing occurs. Here, the freezing may be freezing of an external pipe supplying water to the washer 1 or freezing in the water supply pipe 71. The at least one processor 222 may perform the defrosting mode based on the second amount measured based on the flow sensor 278 being less than the first amount. For example, the at least one processor 222 may perform the defrosting mode based on the second amount being less than a predetermined ratio of the first amount. For example, in case that the predetermined ratio is 95%, the at least one processor 222 may perform the defrosting mode based on the second amount being less than 95% of the first amount. Here, the predetermined ratio may be variable.

According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may perform the defrosting mode by opening the water supply valve 72 to continuously supply water into the washer 1. For example, the at least one processor 222 may open the drain valve 81 to immediately drain the supplied water. For example, the at least one processor 222 may remove freezing generated inside the washer 1 by circulating water internally using a circulation pump of the washer 1 disposed to circulate water into the drum 40.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may further include a heat pump for performing a clothes drying function after a washing cycle is completed. In this case, the at least one processor 222 may also perform the defrosting mode by operating the heat pump.

According to an embodiment, the at least one processor 222 may continuously determine whether freezing is removed by performing the freezing detection mode again during or after the defrosting mode is performed.

Generally, to prevent freezing in pipes supplying water to the washer 1 during cold waves, an operation of continuously opening a water supply valve has been performed in circumstances below a specific temperature. In case that the water supply valve is continuously opened, freezing prevention is possible, but there was a problem of excessive water waste due to continuous water use. Accordingly, in the disclosure, water consumption may be reduced by using a method of preferentially detecting freezing by supplying only an amount of water of the first amount to the water supply pipe 71, and performing the defrosting mode only after freezing is detected.

FIG. 4 is a view schematically illustrating an upper configuration of a washer according to an embodiment.

All features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIG. 4 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other drawings of the disclosure. Likewise, all features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 to 8 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, a washer 1 according to an embodiment may include a housing 10, a detergent supply device 13, a tub 30, a water supply valve 72, and/or a water supply pipe 71.

According to an embodiment, the water supply valve 72 may include a first water supply valve 72a, a second water supply valve 72b, and a third water supply valve 72c. This is for convenience of description, and the number of water supply valves 72 is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the water supply pipe 71 may be disposed to be connected to the water supply valve 72. The number of water supply pipes 71 may correspond to the number of water supply valves 72.

According to an embodiment, the water supply pipe 71 may include a first water supply pipe 71a, a second water supply pipe 71b, and a third water supply pipe 71c. The first water supply pipe 71a may be connected to the first water supply valve 72a. The second water supply pipe 71b may be connected to the second water supply valve 72b. The third water supply pipe 71c may be connected to the third water supply valve 72c. The second water supply pipe 71b and the third water supply pipe 71c may be connected to the detergent supply device 13. The second water supply pipe 71b or the third water supply pipe 71c may be disposed to supply water supplied in case that the second water supply valve 72b or the third water supply valve 72c is opened to the detergent supply device 13.

According to an embodiment, the first water supply pipe 71a may be disposed to directly supply water to the tub 30 and/or the drum (e.g., the drum 40 of FIG. 2). The first water supply pipe 71a may be disposed to supply water supplied in case that the first water supply valve 72a is opened to the tub 30 and/or the drum 40.

According to an embodiment, the flow sensor 278 may be disposed on the first water supply pipe 71a. The flow sensor 278 may be disposed on an upper side of the tub 30.

However, without limitation thereto, the flow sensor 278 may be disposed on the second water supply pipe 71b or the third water supply pipe 71c instead of the first water supply pipe 71a. Alternatively, at least one flow sensor 278 may be disposed on at least one of the first water supply pipe 71a, the second water supply pipe 71b, or the third water supply pipe 71c.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may further include a drain flow sensor additionally disposed on a pipeline adjacent to the drain valve (e.g., the drain valve 81 of FIG. 2). The at least one processor (e.g., the processor 222 of FIG. 3) may measure a fluid quantity based on the drain flow sensor and determine whether freezing occurs inside the washer based on the measured fluid quantity.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart schematically illustrating overall freezing detection and removal operations of a washer according to an embodiment.

All features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIG. 5 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other drawings of the disclosure. Likewise, all features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIG. 5.

The control flowchart illustrated in FIG. 5 relates to a portion of the control process of the washer 1, and is exemplarily illustrated for convenience of description, so the illustrated order does not limit the scope of rights of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, a washer 1 according to an embodiment may include, in operation 510, an operation of detecting temperature. The washer 1 may detect and measure temperature based on the temperature sensor 275. Alternatively, the washer 1 may receive information about temperature from an external electronic device using the communication unit 260.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 520, an operation of determining whether a measured temperature is equal to or lower than a set temperature. Here, information about the set temperature may be pre-stored in the memory 221. The set temperature may be, e.g., a temperature within 0 to 4 degrees, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Based on the washer 1 determining that the measured temperature is not equal to or lower than the set temperature, it may perform operation 510 again. Operation 510 may be repeatedly performed periodically or aperiodically based on the measured temperature being not equal to or lower than the set temperature.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 530, an operation of performing a freezing detection mode operation based on determining that the measured temperature is equal to or lower than the set temperature. The washer 1 of the disclosure may detect whether freezing occurs using a small amount of water. A detailed description of the freezing detection mode is described later in FIG. 6.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may provide information to the user that the freezing detection mode operation will start before starting the freezing detection mode operation or when starting the freezing detection mode operation. For example, the washer 1 may visually provide information to the user that the freezing detection mode operation is in progress using the display unit 52. For example, the washer 1 may communicate with an external electronic device (e.g., the user terminal) through the communication unit 260 to transfer information that the freezing detection mode operation is in progress to the external electronic device.

According to an embodiment, based on the washer 1 determining in operation 520 that the measured temperature is equal to or lower than the set temperature, it may provide information to the user to select whether to start the freezing detection mode. The washer 1 may display a screen asking the user whether to proceed with the freezing detection mode through the display unit 52, or transfer a signal requesting whether to proceed with the freezing detection mode to the user's electronic device through the communication unit 260. Based on the user selecting to proceed with the freezing detection mode, the washer 1 may receive a proceed signal from the input unit 51 or the communication unit 260 and perform operation 530.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 540, an operation of determining whether freezing occurs. The washer 1 may determine whether freezing occurs based on information obtained using the freezing detection mode. The washer 1 may determine whether freezing occurs by comparing a fluid quantity measured based on the flow sensor 278 in the freezing detection mode with a fluid quantity actually supplied by opening the water supply valve 72. Here, freezing may refer to freezing in an external pipe supplying water to the washer 1. Based on the washer 1 determining that freezing has not occurred, it may perform operation 530 again to perform the freezing detection mode operation. The washer 1 may early detect a moment when freezing starts in a pipe by repeatedly performing operation 530. The washer 1 may early determine a freezing start time using a small amount of water in operation 530 and minimize water usage by early removing freezing.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 550, an operation of performing a defrosting mode operation based on determining that freezing occurs. The washer 1 may remove freezing by opening the water supply valve 72 for a predetermined period to continuously supply water into the washer 1. The washer 1 may open the drain valve 81 to drain water during the water supply process. A description of the defrosting mode operation is made below in detail in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may further include a heat pump for drying clothes after a washing cycle is completed. In this case, the washer 1 may contribute to defrosting by operating the heat pump in operation 550.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 560, an operation of determining whether freezing is removed. For example, the washer 1 may continuously monitor whether freezing is removed even while operation 550 is in progress. For example, the washer 1 may determine whether freezing is removed after operation 550 is completed. The washer 1 may determine whether freezing is removed based on the flow sensor 278. For example, an operation substantially the same as the freezing detection mode operation may be performed to determine whether freezing is removed.

According to an embodiment, based on the washer 1 determining that freezing has not been removed, it may perform operation 550 again to remove freezing. Based on the washer 1 determining that freezing is removed, it may return to operation 530 and perform the freezing detection mode operation again.

According to an embodiment, while operations 530 to 560 are performed, the washer 1 may continuously detect and measure an ambient environment temperature. In the process where the washer 1 performs operations 530 to 560, based on an ambient temperature being greater than the set temperature, the washer 1 may terminate the operation and return to operation 510.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart illustrating a freezing detection mode operation of a washer according to an embodiment.

All features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIG. 6 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other drawings of the disclosure. Likewise, all features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5 and 7 to 8 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIG. 6.

The control flowchart illustrated in FIG. 6 relates to a portion of the control process of the washer 1, and is exemplarily illustrated for convenience of description, so the illustrated order does not limit the scope of rights of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, a washer 1 according to an embodiment may include, in operation 610, an operation of opening and then closing the water supply valve 72 for a predetermined time to supply water only of a first amount. The first amount may be a small amount. For example, the first amount may be 50 mL to 150 mL, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The washer 1 may determine an opening time of the water supply valve 72 based on the determined first amount.

According to an embodiment, operation 610 may be performed once at each preset time interval. For example, operation 610 may be repeatedly performed at time intervals of about 2 minutes to 4 minutes. As such, the disclosure may reduce water consumption for detecting and removing freezing by minimizing an amount of water supplied per hour.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 620, an operation of measuring a fluid quantity of water supplied based on the flow sensor 278. The fluid quantity measured in this case may be referred to as a second amount. The washer 1 may measure an amount of water passing through the flow sensor 278 based on the flow sensor 278 after opening the water supply valve 72.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 630, an operation of determining whether freezing occurs by comparing the first amount supplied through the water supply valve 72 with the second amount measured by the flow sensor 278. In case that freezing has not occurred in an external pipe supplying water to the washer 1, the first amount and the second amount are substantially the same. In case that freezing occurs in an external pipe supplying water to the washer 1, a flow path in the pipe narrows due to freezing, so an amount of water actually supplied may decrease compared to a time when the drain valve 81 is opened. Such a decrease in water supply amount may be determined by measuring the second amount and comparing it with pre-stored information about the first amount.

According to an embodiment, in case that freezing occurs in a pipe supplying water to the washer 1, water flow is blocked by freezing, so a fluid quantity less than a fluid quantity expected based on a time when the water supply valve 72 is opened may be detected by the flow sensor 278. Therefore, based on the second amount being less than the first amount, the washer 1 may estimate that freezing occurs in an external pipe supplying water to the washer 1.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may determine that freezing occurs based on the second amount being less than a predetermined ratio of the first amount. Even in the case that the second amount is less than the first amount, this may be due to measurement error or friction on an inner surface of a water supply pipe. To prevent malfunction due to such error, the washer 1 may determine that freezing occurs only based on the second amount being less than the first amount in a range outside an error range. For example, in case that the predetermined ratio is 95%, the washer 1 may determine that freezing occurs based on the second amount being less than 95% of the first amount.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may continuously perform the freezing detection mode by repeatedly performing operations 610 to 630. According to an embodiment, operations 610 and 620 may be performed simultaneously.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart illustrating a defrosting mode operation of a washer according to an embodiment.

All features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIG. 7 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other drawings of the disclosure. Likewise, all features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 6 and 8 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIG. 7.

The control flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7 relates to a portion of the control process of the washer 1, and is exemplarily illustrated for convenience of description, so the illustrated order does not limit the scope of rights of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7, a washer 1 according to an embodiment may include, in operation 710, an operation of opening the water supply valve 72 to supply water into the washer 1. The washer 1 may continuously supply water into the washer 1 by opening the water supply valve 72 for a preset time. By continuously supplying water into the washer 1, water flows without pooling in frozen portions, thereby preventing additional freezing or removing existing freezing.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 720, an operation of opening the drain valve 81. The washer 1 may drain the supplied water by opening the drain valve 81. The washer 1 may operate the drain pump 841 to proceed with drainage more quickly to prevent freezing from occurring due to residual water inside the washer 1. Operations 710 and 720 may be performed simultaneously or as the same operation.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 730, an operation of repeatedly measuring a fluid quantity based on the flow sensor 278. The washer 1 may not only perform operation 730 after operations 710 and 720 are completed, but may also perform it while operations 710 and 720 are operating. Operation 730 may be performed between operations 710 and 720. The washer 1 may detect a change in flow rate of water being supplied based on the flow sensor 278 while water is being supplied.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 740, an operation of determining whether freezing is removed based on the measured fluid quantity. The washer 1 may determine whether to perform operation 710 again or return to the freezing detection mode operation (e.g., operation 530 of FIG. 5) based on the determination made in operation 740. Based on the washer 1 determining that freezing is removed, it may return to the freezing detection mode operation. Based on the washer 1 determining that freezing has not been removed, it may perform the sequential operations again from operation 710.

According to an embodiment, operations 730 and 740 may be performed between operations 710 and 720.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may determine whether freezing is removed based on whether a fluid quantity has become equal to or greater than a preset freezing release value while measuring the fluid quantity based on the flow sensor 278. The preset freezing release value may be pre-stored in the memory 221.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may determine whether freezing is removed by performing operations 610 to 630 after performing operations 710 and 720. In other words, the washer 1 may perform operation 610 of supplying only a small amount of water after the operation of removing freezing in operations 710 and 720 is stopped or completed, and determine whether freezing occurs through operations 620 and 630.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may omit operations 720, 730, and 740 in the defrosting mode. The washer 1 may perform the freezing detection mode (e.g., operation 530 of FIG. 5) again after continuously supplying water by opening the water supply valve 72 for a predetermined time.

FIG. 8 is a control flowchart illustrating a defrosting mode operation of a washer according to an embodiment.

All features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components illustrated in FIG. 8 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in other drawings of the disclosure. Likewise, all features, components, and/or arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 7 may be included alone or in combination with the features, components, and arrangement relationships between components described in connection with FIG. 8.

The control flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8 relates to a portion of the control process of the washer 1, and is exemplarily illustrated for convenience of description, so the illustrated order does not limit the scope of rights of the disclosure.

Among the operations illustrated in FIG. 8, descriptions of operations substantially the same as those described in connection to FIG. 7 are omitted.

Referring to FIG. 8, a washer 1 according to an embodiment may include, in operation 810, an operation of opening the water supply valve 72 to supply water into the washer 1. Operation 810 may correspond to operation 710.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 820, an operation of circulating water inside the drum 40 using a circulation pump. In the defrosting mode operation, the washer 1 may prevent or remove freezing inside the washer 1 by additionally operating the circulation pump to circulate water remaining inside the washer 1.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 830, an operation of opening the drain valve 81. Operation 830 may correspond to operation 720.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 840, an operation of repeatedly measuring a fluid quantity based on the flow sensor 278. Operation 840 may correspond to operation 730.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may include, in operation 850, an operation of determining whether freezing is removed based on the measured fluid quantity. Operation 850 may correspond to operation 740.

A. A washer 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may perform a control mode for removing freezing during cold waves. A washer 1 according to an embodiment may reduce water consumption by, based on an ambient environment temperature dropping to a temperature at which cold waves may begin (e.g., 4 degrees or lower), not continuously flowing water to prevent freezing but first performing a 'freezing detection mode' using a small amount of water to determine whether freezing occurs, and flowing water to remove freezing only in case that freezing is identified.

A washer 1 according to an embodiment may include a housing 10, a temperature sensor 275, a flow sensor 278, a drum 40 disposed within the housing 10, a water supply valve 72 disposed to supply water to the drum 40, memory 221 including one or more storage media storing instructions, and at least one processor 222 including a processing circuit. The instructions may, based on being executed individually or collectively by the at least one processor 222, cause the washer to perform at least one operation. The at least one operation may include determining whether a measured temperature measured based on the temperature sensor 275 is equal to or lower than a reference temperature, based on the measured temperature being equal to or lower than the reference temperature, opening the water supply valve 72 for a first time to supply water of a first amount, and performing a defrosting operation for executing a defrosting mode based on a second amount, which is an amount of water supplied measured based on the flow sensor 278, being less than the first amount.

According to an embodiment, the memory 221 may include data on an amount of water supplied according to an opening time of the water supply valve 72.

According to an embodiment, in the defrosting operation, the defrosting mode may be performed based on the second amount being 95% or less of the first amount.

According to an embodiment, the flow sensor 278 may be disposed on a flow path between the water supply valve 72 and the drum 40.

According to an embodiment, the defrosting operation may include opening the water supply valve 72 to supply water and discharging the supplied water to an outside.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may further include a circulation pump disposed to circulate water to the drum 40. The defrosting operation may further include circulating water internally using the circulation pump.

According to an embodiment, the washer 1 may further include a heat pump disposed to supply hot dry air to the drum 40. The defrosting operation may include raising a temperature inside the washer using the heat pump.

According to an embodiment, during progress of the defrosting operation, whether freezing is removed may be determined periodically or aperiodically using a fluid quantity measured based on the flow sensor 278.

According to an embodiment, the at least one operation may further include terminating the defrosting mode based on determining that freezing is removed during progress of the defrosting operation.

According to an embodiment, the flow sensor 278 may be disposed on an upper side of the drum 40.

According to an embodiment, the operation of supplying water of the first amount may be performed repeatedly periodically or aperiodically.

A method for controlling a washer 1 according to an embodiment may include determining whether a measured temperature measured based on a temperature sensor 275 is equal to or lower than a reference temperature, based on the measured temperature being equal to or lower than the reference temperature, opening a water supply valve 72 for a first time to supply water of a first amount, and performing a defrosting operation for executing a defrosting mode based on a second amount, which is an amount of water supplied measured based on the flow sensor 278, being less than the first amount.

According to an embodiment, in the defrosting operation, the defrosting mode may be performed based on the second amount being 95% or less of the first amount.

According to an embodiment, the defrosting operation may include opening a water supply valve 72 disposed to supply water to a drum 40 to supply water and discharging the supplied water to an outside.

According to an embodiment, the defrosting operation may further include circulating water internally using a circulation pump disposed to circulate water to a drum 40.

According to an embodiment, the method for controlling a washer 1 may further include raising a temperature inside the washer using a heat pump disposed to supply hot dry air to a drum 40.

According to an embodiment, the method for controlling a washer 1 may further include terminating the defrosting mode based on determining that freezing is removed during progress of the defrosting operation.

According to an embodiment, the operation of supplying water of the first amount may be performed repeatedly periodically or aperiodically.

According to an embodiment, the method for controlling a washer 1 may further include, based on the measured temperature being equal to or lower than the reference temperature, displaying a notification that a freezing risk may occur.

According to an embodiment, the reference temperature may be a temperature between 0 degrees Celsius and 4 degrees Celsius.

In the disclosure, the above-described description has been made mainly of specific embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to such specific embodiments, but should rather be appreciated as covering all various modifications, equivalents, and/or substitutes of various embodiments.