Patent Description:
Generally, a laundry treating apparatus refers to an apparatus that carries out a series of processes (e.g., washing, drying, deodorization, wrinkle removal, etc.) in relation to laundry. The term "laundry treating apparatus" may comprise a washing machine for washing laundry, a drying machine for drying wet laundry, and an apparatus for removing odors or wrinkles out of laundry.

Since laundry treating apparatuses of the related art carry out treating processes by rubbing laundry with a drum, in which laundry is accommodated, through a driving unit rotating the drum and a supply unit supplying the air to the drum, they are favorable for drying of laundry but are limited in preventing wrinkles from occurring in laundry or removing wrinkles from laundry.

The laundry treating apparatuses of the related art have a problem in that there is no function of sensing or indicating a state of laundry such as an odor level of laundry and a dust level of laundry when laundry treating processes such as wrinkle removal, deodorization and drying of laundry are performed. Therefore, a problem occurs in that the laundry treating apparatuses of the related art fail to notify a user how a state of laundry (a contamination level, etc.) is improved through a laundry treating process.

Also, a problem occurs in that the laundry treating apparatuses of the related art fail to notify a user how a contamination level of laundry is changed while a laundry treating proces is being performed.

Also, a problem occurs in that the laundry treating apparatuses of the related art fail to notify a user that a separate action, such as a case that washing is additionally required, is required after a laundry treating process is completed.

<CIT> relates to a clothes treating apparatus having a movable nozzle for spraying jets to the garment hung on one or more hangers.

<CIT> relates to a control method of a clothing care machine.

<CIT> discloses a clothes refreshing cabinet comprising a moving hanger provided within the garment receiving space to impart movement to the garments.

<CIT> discloses a clothes refreshing cabinet comprising a sensor for measuring foreign matter concentration in the garment storage space.

<CIT> discloses a washing machine comprising a sensor configured to detect the contamination of water, wherein the degree of cleanliness of the washing water, determined in a repeating process, is displayed as a percentage or a bar graph or the like through the display unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of carrying out drying, deodorization and wrinkle removal of laundry through a support for fixing a laundry in a state that the laundry is unfolded.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that senses a state of laundry (an odor level of laundry, a dust level of laundry, etc.) and notifies a user of the sensed state.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that notifies a user how a contamination level of laundry is changed while a laundry treating process is being performed, in real time.

Further still another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that allows a user to check how a contamination level of laundry is improved through a laundry treating process.

Further still another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that notifies a user that a separate action, such as washing, is required after a laundry treating process is completed.

The invention is defined by independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

The displaying step may be provided to display at least one of symbols set differently depending on the contamination level measured in the sensing step, texts set differently depending on the contamination level measured in the sensing step, images set differently depending on the contamination level measured in the sensing step, same symbols set in different colors depending on the contamination level measured in the sensing step, same texts set in different colors depending on the contamination level measured in the sensing step, and same images set in different colors depending on the contamination level measured in the sensing step.

The treating step may include allowing the support module to reciprocate at a first period which is preset, if the concentration of dust inside the first chamber, which is measured in the sensing step, is a reference value or more, and the treating step may include allowing the support module to reciprocate at a second period set to be longer than the first period if the concentration of dust inside the first chamber, which is measured in the sensing step, is less than the reference value.

The treating step may include operating the water supply module for a first supply time which is preset, if the concentration of odor particles, which is measured in the sensing step, is a reference value or more, and the treating step may include operating the water supply module for a second supply time set to be shorter than the first supply time if the concentration of odor particles, which is measured in the sensing step, is less than the reference value.

The sensing step may include a shaking step of reciprocating the support module inside the first chamber by operating the driving module; a circulating step of operating the fan; and a first measuring step of measuring at least one of the concentration of dust and the concentration of odor particles, which are contained in the air entering the circulating duct.

The control method of the present disclosure may further comprise an execution time determining step of determining an execution time of the treating step; a second measuring step of measuring a contamination level of the first chamber through the sensing module when a reference time set to be shorter than the execution time and longer than the reference period passes from the time when the treating step is initiated; and an extension step of extending the execution time when the contamination level measured in the second measuring step is greater than a preset target value.

The extension step may be executed only if extension times of the execution time are less than preset reference times.

The control method of the present disclosure may further comprise a step of ending the treating step and a step of displaying a message recommending water washing on the display module if the extension times of the execution time are greater than the preset reference times.

The displaying module may be provided to display at least one of symbols set differently depending on the contamination level measured by the sensing module, texts set differently depending on the contamination level measured by the sensing module, images set differently depending on the contamination level measured by the sensing module, same symbols set in different colors depending on the contamination level measured by the sensing module, same texts set in different colors depending on the contamination level measured by the sensing module, and same images set in different colors depending on the contamination level measured by the sensing module.

The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus capable of carrying out drying, deodorization and wrinkle removal of laundry through a support module for fixing a laundry in a state that the laundry is unfolded.

Also, the present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus that senses a state of laundry (an odor level of laundry, a dust level of laundry, etc.), and notifies a user of the sensed state.

Also, the present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus that notifies a user how a contamination level of laundry is changed while a laundry treating process is being performed, in real time.

Also, the present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus that allows a user to check how a contamination level of laundry is improved through a laundry treating process.

Also, the present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus that notifies a user that a separate action, such as washing, is required after a laundry treating process is completed.

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A configuration of an apparatus or a control method thereof, which will be described below, is intended to describe the embodiment of the present disclosure but is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, a laundry treating apparatus <NUM> of the present disclosure comprises a cabinet <NUM> forming an external appearance, and a first chamber <NUM> provided inside the cabinet, providing a space in which laundry is accommodated. As shown in <FIG>, a second chamber <NUM> forming a space spaced apart from the first chamber, positioned below the first chamber is provided inside the cabinet. Supply modules <NUM> and <NUM> for supplying at least one of water and the air to the first chamber <NUM> is provided inside the second chamber <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate that the supply modules <NUM> and <NUM> are provided as an air supply module <NUM> for supplying the air to the first chamber <NUM> and a water supply module <NUM> for supplying water to the first chamber, as an example.

As shown in <FIG>, the cabinet <NUM> may be provided to include a cabinet body <NUM> provided with an inlet <NUM> on a front surface. In this case, the first chamber <NUM> is fixed to the cabinet body <NUM> and communicated with the inlet <NUM>, and the first chamber <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM> may be partitioned from each other by a first partition <NUM> for partitioning an inner space of the cabinet body <NUM> into an upper space and a lower space.

As shown in <FIG>, the cabinet body <NUM> may be provided with a tank seating portion <NUM> positioned below the first chamber <NUM> and in front of the second chamber <NUM>. The tank seating portion <NUM> may be partitioned from the first chamber <NUM> by the first partition <NUM>, and may be provided to form a space partitioned from the second chamber <NUM> through a second partition <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the inlet <NUM> and the tank seating portion <NUM> may be provided to be opened or closed by a door <NUM>. That is, the door <NUM> may include a door body <NUM> provided in a shape capable of closing both the inlet <NUM> and the tank seating portion <NUM>, and first and second hinges <NUM> and <NUM> for rotatably fixing the door body <NUM> to the cabinet body <NUM>.

The door body <NUM> is provided with a control panel <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the control panel <NUM> may be provided with a display module <NUM> on which a control command is displayed, and input modules <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> to which the control command is input from a user. The input modules may be provided to include a first input module <NUM> to which a control command to supply a power to a controller and the supply modules <NUM> and <NUM> is input, a second input module <NUM> to which a selection command of a course (laundry treating stroke) provided in the laundry treating apparatus, and a third input module <NUM> to which a start command or a stop command of the selected course is input.

As shown in <FIG>, the first partition <NUM> is provided with a first communication hole <NUM> and a second communication hole <NUM>, which communicate the first chamber <NUM> with the second chamber <NUM>.

The air supply module <NUM> may be provided to include a circulating duct <NUM> provided in the second chamber <NUM>, a heat exchanger <NUM> for sequentially executing dehumidification and heating of the air entering the circulating duct, and a water collecting module <NUM> for discharging condensed water generated from the heat exchanger <NUM> to the outside of the second chamber <NUM>.

The circulating duct may be provided to include an intake duct <NUM> connected to the first communication hole <NUM>, an exhaust duct <NUM> connected to the second communication hole <NUM>, and a connection duct <NUM> connecting the intake duct with the exhaust duct.

The circulating duct is provided with a fan <NUM> for allowing the air of the first chamber <NUM> to move to the intake duct, the connection duct and the exhaust duct in due order, and <FIG> illustrates that the fan <NUM> is provided in the connection duct <NUM> as an example.

The heat exchanger <NUM> may be provided in any device as far as it may dehumidify the air entering the intake duct <NUM> and heat the dehumidified air, and <FIG> illustrates that the heat exchanger <NUM> is provided as a heat pump as an example.

That is, the heat exchanger <NUM> of <FIG> may be provided to include a refrigerant pipe <NUM> forming a circulating path of a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger <NUM> fixed to the refrigerant pipe and positioned inside the connection duct <NUM>, a second heat exchanger <NUM> fixed to the refrigerant pipe and positioned between the first heat exchanger <NUM> and the fan <NUM>, a compressor <NUM> circulating the refrigerant between the two heat exchangers <NUM> and <NUM> along the refrigerant pipe, and a pressure controller <NUM> for controlling a pressure of the refrigerant pipe. The compressor <NUM> and the pressure controller <NUM> may be positioned outside the circulating duct <NUM>.

The first heat exchanger <NUM> may be provided as an evaporator for cooling the air by transferring heat of the air entering the intake duct <NUM> to the refrigerant, and evaporating the refrigerant. In this case, water contained in the air will be collected in a bottom surface of the connection duct <NUM> by moving along a surface of the first heat exchanger <NUM>.

The second heat exchanger <NUM> may be provided as a condenser for heating the air and condensing the refrigerant by transferring heat of the refrigerant passing through the compressor <NUM> to the air passing through the first heat exchanger.

The first communication hole <NUM> may be provided with a filter (not shown) to filter particles contained in the air entering the intake duct <NUM>.

The water collecting module <NUM> may be provided to include a water collecting tank <NUM> provided in the tank seating portion <NUM>, providing a space in which water is stored, a water collecting tank through hole provided to pass through the water collecting tank <NUM>, a first discharge pipe 478a inserted into the water collecting tank through hole, a second discharge pipe 478b discharging the condensed water discharged from the first heat exchanger <NUM> to the outside of the circulating duct, and a discharge pump <NUM> moving the condensed water discharged to the second discharge pipe 478b to the first discharge pipe 478a.

The water collecting tank <NUM> may detachably be provided in the tank seating portion <NUM>. In this case, a check valve <NUM> may be provided in the water collecting tank through hole. The check valve <NUM> is provided to allow the first discharge pipe 478a to be inserted into the water collecting tank through hole and prevent the water inside the water collecting tank from being discharged through the water collecting tank through hole. Therefore, if the water collecting tank <NUM> is fixed to the tank seating portion <NUM>, the controller may move the condensed water inside the circulating duct to the water collecting tank <NUM> through the discharge pump <NUM>.

A drainage hole <NUM> for discharging the condensed water stored in the water collecting tank <NUM> is provided on one surface of the water collecting tank <NUM>, and <FIG> illustrates that the drainage hole <NUM> is provided on an upper surface of the water collecting tank as an example. The drainage hole <NUM> may be opened or closed by a cover <NUM> detachably provided in the water collecting tank.

The water supply module <NUM> provided in the present disclosure may be provided to supply heated steam to the first chamber, or may be provided to supply steam (mist, etc.), which is not heated, to the first chamber. <FIG> illustrates that the water supply module <NUM> is provided to supply steam generated by heating water to the first chamber <NUM> as an example.

That is, the water supply module <NUM> may be provided with a steam generator <NUM> provided in the second chamber <NUM>, generating steam, a spray module <NUM> discharging steam generated from the steam generator to the first chamber <NUM>, and a water supply module <NUM> supplying water to the steam generator.

The steam generator <NUM> may include a storage module <NUM> provided inside the second chamber <NUM>, providing a space in which water is stored, and a heater <NUM> provided to heat water inside the storage module <NUM>. The storage module <NUM> is provided with a water supply hole 511a through which water enters, and a steam discharge hole 511b discharging steam inside the storage module <NUM>.

The spray module <NUM> may be provided as a spray body fixed to a third communication hole <NUM> (see <FIG>) provided to pass through the first partition <NUM>. In this case, the spray body may be connected to the steam discharge hole 511b through a connection pipe <NUM>, and the steam inside the spray body may move to the first chamber <NUM> through a spray hole <NUM> passing through an upper surface of the spray body.

The water supply module <NUM> may be provided to include a supply tank <NUM> provided in the tank seating portion <NUM>, and a supply pump <NUM> supplying water stored in the supply tank <NUM> to the storage module <NUM>.

The supply tank <NUM> may detachably be provided in the tank seating portion <NUM>. In this case, the supply tank <NUM> is provided with a supply tank through hole provided to pass through the supply tank and a check valve <NUM> opening or closing the supply tank through hole, and the water supply module <NUM> may be provided to include a first supply pipe 558a inserted into the supply tank through hole by passing through the second partition <NUM>, and a second supply pipe 558b connected to the water supply hole 511a. In this case, the water entering the first supply pipe 558a will be moved to the second supply pipe 558b through the supply pump <NUM>.

The check valve <NUM> is provided to open the supply tank through hole only if the first supply pipe 558a is inserted into the supply tank through hole. Therefore, if the supply tank <NUM> is fixed to the tank seating portion <NUM>, the controller will supply water to the storage module <NUM> through the supply pump <NUM>.

A water supply hole <NUM> is provided on one surface of the supply tank <NUM>, and <FIG> illustrates that the water supply hole <NUM> is provided on the upper surface of the supply tank as an example. The water supply hole <NUM> may be opened or closed by a cover <NUM> detachably provided in the supply tank.

The controller provided to control the air supply module <NUM> and the water supply module <NUM> may be provided in the second chamber <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> of the present disclosure is provided with a support module <NUM> for fixing laundry into the first chamber <NUM> in a state that the laundry is unfolded. The support module <NUM> includes a frame <NUM> fixed to the cabinet body <NUM> and positioned above the first chamber, and first and second connection modules <NUM> and <NUM> rotatably fixed to the frame <NUM>.

The first connection module <NUM> may be provided as a bar having one end positioned inside the first chamber <NUM> and the other end positioned outside the first chamber <NUM>, and may be fixed to the frame <NUM> through a first shaft positioned between two free ends.

The second connection module <NUM> may also be provided as a bar having one end positioned inside the first chamber <NUM> and the other end positioned outside the first chamber <NUM>. The second connection module <NUM> may be fixed to the frame <NUM> through a second shaft positioned between two free ends.

The support module <NUM> may include a support bar <NUM> fixed to the first and second connection modules <NUM> and <NUM> and positioned inside the first chamber <NUM>. The support bar <NUM> may be provided as a bar parallel with a width direction (X-axis direction) of the first chamber. The support bar <NUM> may be provided with a hook accommodating groove <NUM> in which a hanger hook is detachably accommodated.

The support module <NUM> may reciprocate along the width direction (X-axis direction) of the first chamber through a driving module. The driving module may be provided to include a motor <NUM> fixed to the frame <NUM>, and a power converter <NUM> converting a rotational motion of the motor to a straight reciprocating motion of the support bar <NUM>.

The power converter <NUM> may be provided to include a converter body <NUM> connecting the free end of the first connection module <NUM> positioned outside the first chamber <NUM> with the free end of the second connection module <NUM> positioned outside the first chamber <NUM>, a slot <NUM> provided in the converter body <NUM>, a connection bar <NUM> rotated by a rotary shaft <NUM> of the motor, and a slot protrusion <NUM> provided in the connection bar <NUM> and inserted into the slot <NUM>.

The slot <NUM> is provided to be orthogonal to a motion direction of the support bar <NUM>. That is, if the support bar <NUM> is provided along the width direction (X-axis direction) of the first chamber, the slot <NUM> may be provided along a depth direction (Z-axis direction) of the first chamber.

When the rotary shaft <NUM> is rotated, the slot protrusion <NUM> forms a circular trace having a length of the connection bar <NUM> as a radius, wherein a diameter R of the circular trace is set to a length L or less of the slot <NUM>. Therefore, a rotational motion of the slot protrusion <NUM> is converted to the straight reciprocating motion of the converter body <NUM>. The support bar <NUM> is connected to the converter body <NUM> through the first connection module <NUM> and the second connection module <NUM>. Therefore, the support bar <NUM> will be moved along the width direction of the first chamber <NUM> during motion of the converter body <NUM>, and laundry hung in the support bar <NUM> will also be moved along the width direction of the first chamber <NUM>.

The laundry treating apparatus <NUM> of the present disclosure further comprises a sensing module for sensing at least one of a concentration of dust contained in the air of the first chamber <NUM> and a concentration of odor particles. As an example, <FIG> illustrates that the sensing module <NUM> is provided to include an odor sensor <NUM> for measuring a concentration of odor particles contained in the air of the first chamber <NUM>, and a dust sensor <NUM> for measuring a concentration of dust contained in the air of the first chamber <NUM>.

The odor sensor <NUM> and the dust sensor <NUM> may be provided in any position of the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> as far as they are able to measure a contamination level of the air stored in the first chamber <NUM>. As an example, <FIG> illustrates that the odor sensor <NUM> and the dust sensor <NUM> are provided in the intake duct <NUM>.

The odor sensor <NUM> may be provided in any structure as far as it may sense gas particles contained in the air, and its example may include a sensor that includes an infrared light source, an infrared sensor, and a band-pass filter provided between the infrared light source and the infrared sensor. In the aforementioned sensor, since a signal sensed by the infrared sensor varies depending on types of gas particles, the controller may determine a concentration of the gas particles contained in the air through the signal of the infrared sensor.

The dust sensor <NUM> may also be provided in various structures as far as it may sense dust particles contained in the air, and its example may include a sensor that includes a light-emitting portion emitting light and a light-receiving portion absorbing light. If there is a lot of dust, since intensity of light received by the light-receiving portion will be reduced by scattering of light, the controller may determine the concentration of particles of dust contained in the air in accordance with intensity of light received by the light-receiving portion.

The laundry treating apparatus <NUM> of the present disclosure is characterized in that the contamination level of the air measured by the sensing module <NUM> is displayed on the display module <NUM>. The display module <NUM> may be provided to display at least one of symbols set differently depending on the contamination level, texts set differently, images set differently, same symbols set in different colors, same texts set in different colors, and same images set in different colors. <FIG> illustrates that same images are displayed in different colors in accordance with a contamination level of the air and different texts are displayed in accordance with the contamination level, as an example. Therefore, in the present disclosure, the contamination level of the air in the first chamber may be notified to a user.

The sensing module <NUM> may be provided to sense the contamination level of the air inside the first chamber <NUM> every preset reference period, and the display module <NUM> may be provided to display the contamination level per reference period. Therefore, how the contamination level of laundry is changed while the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure is notified to a user in real time, whereby the user may check a laundry treating process.

Hereinafter, a control method for a laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The control method for the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure is initiated through a course selection step S10 of allowing a user to select a desired course through an input module of the control panel <NUM>. If the user selects a desired course through the course selection step S10, the control method for the present disclosure proceeds to an execution time determining step S11 of determining an execution time of the selected course and a step S12 of determining whether the course selected by the user is an automatic course. The execution time determining step S11 and the step S12 of determining whether the automatic course has been selected may be performed at the same time.

If the course selected by the user is an automatic course, the control method for the present disclosure proceeds to a sensing step S20 of allowing the sensing module <NUM> to measure a contamination level of the air in the first chamber <NUM>.

The sensing step S20 may be provided to include a circulating step S21 of operating the fan <NUM>, a shaking step S23 of reciprocating the support module <NUM> inside the first chamber <NUM> by operating the driving modules <NUM> and <NUM>, and a measuring step S25 (first measuring step) of allowing the sensing module <NUM> to measure at least one of a concentration of dust contained in the air and a concentration of odor particles.

The circulating step S21 is a step of allowing the air stored in the first chamber <NUM> to enter the intake duct <NUM> and supplying the air entering the intake duct <NUM> to the first chamber <NUM> through the exhaust duct <NUM>.

The shaking step S23 is a step of allowing the support bar <NUM> to reciprocate inside the first chamber <NUM> by rotating the motor <NUM>. If the shaking step S23 proceeds, laundry hung in the support bar <NUM> will move inside the first chamber <NUM> together with the support bar <NUM>. If the laundry moves inside the first chamber <NUM>, since odor particles or dust remaining in the laundry will be detached from the laundry, in the present disclosure, the odor particles or dust remaining in the laundry may be detached from the laundry through the shaking step S23.

Preferably, the circulating step S21 and the shaking step S23 are executed at the same time. That is, the execution time of the circulating step S21 and the execution time of the shaking step S23 should be set such that their overlap time period may exist. However, a starting timing of the circulating step S21 and a start timing of the shaking step S23 do not need to be equal to each other. Therefore, the circulating step S21 may be executed to be earlier than the shaking step S23, or vice versa. However, if the shaking step S23 is executed to be earlier than the circulating step S21, the execution time of the first measuring step S25 may be shortened.

The first measuring step S25 is a step of measuring the contamination level of the air moving from the first chamber <NUM> to the intake duct <NUM> through the odor sensor <NUM> and the dust sensor <NUM>. The first measuring step S25 may include any one of a step of measuring only a concentration of odor particles, a step of measuring only a concentration of dust, and a step of measuring both the concentration of odor particles and the concentration of dust.

If the first measuring step S25 is completed, the control method for the present disclosure proceeds to a step S27 of determining whether a contamination level of the measured air is a preset reference value or more, treating steps S30 and S40 of executing different courses depending on the contamination level of the measured air, and a displaying step S50 of displaying the contamination level of the measured air on the display module <NUM>.

The step S27 of comparing the contamination level with the reference value may be executed as the controller compares the value transmitted from the sensing module <NUM> with the reference value.

The treating step is a step of operating at least one of the air supply module <NUM> and the water supply module <NUM>. The treating step may be provided to include a first course execution step S30 executed when the measured contamination level is more than the reference value and a second course execution step S40 executed when the measured contamination level is less than the reference value.

If the first measuring step S25 is provided as a step of measuring only the concentration of odor particles, any one of the first course execution step S30 and the second course execution step S40 may be executed as the treating step depending on whether the measured concentration of odor particles is the reference value or more.

In this case, the first course execution step S30 may include a step of operating the water supply module <NUM> for a first supply time which is preset, and the second course execution step S40 may include a step of operating the water supply module <NUM> for a second supply time which is preset. If the operation time of the water supply module <NUM> is long, since it is favorable to remove odor particles, the first supply time is preferably set to be longer than the second supply time.

If the first measuring step S25 is provided as a step of measuring only the concentration of dust, any one of the first course execution step S30 and the second course execution step S40 may be executed as the treating step depending on whether the measured concentration of dust is the reference value or more.

In this case, the first course execution step S30 may include a step of reciprocating the support module <NUM> at a first period which is preset, and the second course execution step S40 may include a step of reciprocating the support module <NUM> at a second period which is preset. If a reciprocating period of the support module <NUM> is short, since it may more shake the laundry (since dust of the laundry may be removed more effectively), the second period is preferably set to be long the first period.

Meanwhile, if the first measuring step S25 is provided as a step of measuring both the concentration of odor particles and the concentration of dust, the second course execution step S40 may be executed as the treating step if the measured concentration of odor particles and the concentration of dust are less than the reference value, and the first course execution step S30 may be executed as the treating step if at least one of the measured concentrations exceeds the reference value.

For example, if the concentration of odor particles is less than the odor reference value and the concentration of dust is less than the dust reference value, the second course execution step S30 may be executed as the treating step. However, if the concentration of odor particles is less than the odor reference value but the concentration of dust is more than the dust reference value, if the concentration of odor particles is more than the odor reference value but the concentration of dust is less than the dust reference value, or if the two concentrations are more than the reference values, the first course execution step S30 may be executed as the treating step.

The displaying step S50 may be initiated to be earlier than the treating steps S30 and S40, or may be initiated together with the treating steps S30 and S40. In the displaying step S50, the display module <NUM> may be provided to display different symbols, different texts or different images (icons, etc.) depending on the measured contamination level. Unlike this case, the display module <NUM> may display same symbols in different colors depending on the measured contamination level, display same texts in different colors depending on the contamination level or display same images in different colors depending on the contamination level.

After the displaying step S50 is completed, a step S51 of determining whether a preset reference time has passed from the time when the treating steps S30 and S40 are initiated is executed. The reference time is set to be shorter than the execution time determined in the execution time determining step S11. The reference time may be set to a time of <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the execution time. For example, if the execution time is set to <NUM> minutes, the reference time may be set to <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes.

If it is determined that the reference time does not pass from the time when the treating steps S30 and S40 are initiated (S51), the control method for the present disclosure determines whether a preset reference time has passed from the time when the treating steps S30 and S40 are initiated (S53). The reference period is preferably set to be shorter than the reference time, and may be set to a time corresponding to <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the execution time. That is, if the execution time is <NUM> minutes, the reference period may be set to <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes.

If the preset reference period has passed from the time when the treating steps S30 and S40 are initiated, the control method for the present disclosure executes a measuring step S55 (measuring step per period) of measuring a contamination level through the sensing module <NUM>. If the measuring step S55 per period is completed, the control method of the present disclosure displays the contamination level measured in the measuring step S55 per period on the display module <NUM>. In the control method for the present disclosure, since the measuring step S55 and the displaying step S50 are repeated per reference period while the treating steps S30 and S40 are being executed, how the contamination level of the laundry is changed may be notified to the user.

Unlike the aforementioned description, the step S53 of determining whether the reference period has passed may be provided to determine whether the reference period has passed from the time when the displaying step S50 is completed.

Meanwhile, if it is determined that the reference time has passed after the treating steps S30 and S40 are initiated, the control method for the present disclosure executes a measuring step S60 (second measuring step) of measuring a contamination level of the air through the sensing module <NUM>.

If the contamination level measured in the second measuring step S60 is a preset target value or less (S61), the control method for the present disclosure determines whether the execution time has passed (S63). The step S63 of determining whether the execution time has passed is a step of allowing the controller to determine whether the execution time determined in the execution time determining step S11 has passed from the time when the treating steps S30 and S40 are initiated.

If it is determined that the execution time has passed (S63), the control method for the present disclosure executes a final contamination level displaying step S80 of displaying the contamination level measured in the second measuring step S60 on the display module <NUM> after ending a course which is being executed (S70). Through the final contamination level displaying step S80, the user may check how the contamination level of the laundry has been improved by the treating steps S30 and S40. The final contamination level displaying step S80 may include a step of displaying both the contamination level measured in the first measuring step S35 and the contamination level measured in the second measuring step S60 on the display module <NUM>.

If the contamination level measured in the second measuring step S60 is greater than the target value (S61), the control method for the present disclosure executes an extension step S62 of extending the execution time determined in the execution time determining step S11. This is to reduce the contamination level of the laundry to reach a target level by increasing the execution time of the treating steps S30 and S40.

However, the extension step S62 is preferably executed only if the extension times of the execution time are reference times or less (S64). This is to prevent the execution time of the treating steps S30 and S40 from being too long. The reference times are preferably set to twice or three times.

Meanwhile, if the execution times of the extension step S62 are greater than the reference times, the control method for the present disclosure proceeds to an ending step S70 (step of ending execution of the treating step) of ending a current course after proceeding to a step S66 of displaying a message for recommending water washing on the display module <NUM>. The step S66 of displaying the message is a step of notifying a user that a contamination level of laundry cannot be lowered by the treating steps S30 and S40 provided in the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> of the present disclosure any more. The present disclosure may propose the user to perform a separate action such as washing (laundry treating process of removing contaminant from laundry by using water) through the step S66 of displaying the message. The step S66 of displaying the message may be provided to be executed after the ending step S70 is completed.

If the course selected by the user is not the automatic course (S12), the control method for the present disclosure proceeds to the course execution step S13 of operating the air supply module <NUM>, the water supply module <NUM> and the support module <NUM> in accordance with the course selected by the user.

While the course execution step S13 is being executed, the control method for the present disclosure proceeds to the measuring step S15 (measuring step per period) of measuring a contamination level of the air entering the intake duct <NUM> through the sensing module <NUM> and the displaying step S17 of displaying the measured contamination level on the display module <NUM>.

After the displaying step S17 is completed, the control method for the present disclosure determines whether the execution time determined in the execution time determining step S11 has passed (S18). If the execution time of the course execution step S13 has passed the determined execution time, the control method for the present disclosure ends the current course (S70). However, if the execution time of the course execution step S13 has not passed the determined execution time, the control method for the present disclosure repeats the measuring step S15 and the displaying step S17 per reference period.

The aforementioned displaying steps S17 and S50 and the final contamination level displaying step S80 may be provided to display the contamination level on the display module <NUM> by dividing the contamination level into multiple levels. <FIG> illustrates that the contamination level is divided into three levels (bad, normal, good), as an example. In this case, the reference value may be set to a value for identifying a first level (bad level) from a second level (normal level), and the target value may be set to a value for identifying the second level (normal level) from a third level (good level).

Although not shown, the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> of the present disclosure may be provided to include a treating apparatus communication module provided in the second chamber <NUM>, and a portable terminal receiving information transmitted from the communication module. The portable terminal may be provided to include a terminal communication module performing communication with the treating apparatus communication module, and a terminal display module on which information is displayed. In this case, the control method for the present disclosure may further include a step (terminal transmitting step) of transmitting the measured contamination level to the portable terminal when each of the measuring steps S25, S55 and S60 is completed.

Claim 1:
A control method for a laundry treating apparatus (<NUM>) comprising a cabinet (<NUM>), a first chamber (<NUM>) provided inside the cabinet (<NUM>) and providing a space in which laundry is accommodated, a support module (<NUM>) provided in the first chamber (<NUM>), hanging laundry therein, an air supply module (<NUM>) configured to supply the air to the first chamber (<NUM>), a driving module (<NUM>, <NUM>) allowing the support module (<NUM>) to reciprocate along a width direction of the first chamber (<NUM>), a circulating duct (<NUM>) drawing out the air inside the first chamber (<NUM>) and then re-supplying the air to the first chamber (<NUM>), a heat exchanger (<NUM>) sequentially dehumidifying and heating the air entering the circulating duct (<NUM>), a fan (<NUM>) provided inside the circulating duct (<NUM>), a water supply module (<NUM>) supplying water to the first chamber (<NUM>), sensing module (<NUM>) measuring at least one of a concentration of dust and a concentration of odor particles, which are contained in the air of the first chamber (<NUM>), and a display module (<NUM>) on which information is displayed, the control method comprising:
a sensing step of measuring a contamination level of the air of the first chamber (<NUM>) through the sensing module (<NUM>);
a displaying step of displaying the contamination level measured in the sensing step on the display module (<NUM>); and
a treating step of operating at least one of the air supply module (<NUM>) and the water supply module (<NUM>),
wherein the sensing step and the displaying step are repeated per preset reference period while the treating step is being executed.