Patent ID: 12188172

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs may easily implement the embodiment.

However, the present disclosure is able to be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiment described herein. In addition, in order to clearly describe the present disclosure, components irrelevant to the description are omitted in the drawings. Further, similar reference numerals are assigned to similar components throughout the specification.

Duplicate descriptions of the same components are omitted herein.

In addition, it will be understood that when a component is referred to as being ‘connected to’ or ‘coupled to’ another component herein, it may be directly connected to or coupled to the other component, or one or more intervening components may be present. On the other hand, it will be understood that when a component is referred to as being ‘directly connected to’ or ‘directly coupled to’ another component herein, there are no other intervening components.

The terminology used in the detailed description is for the purpose of describing the embodiments of the present disclosure only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the singular forms ‘a’ and ‘an’ are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It should be understood that the terms ‘comprises’, ‘comprising’, ‘includes’, and ‘including’ when used herein, specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described herein, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, or combinations thereof.

In addition, in this specification, the term ‘and/or’ includes a combination of a plurality of listed items or any of the plurality of listed items. In the present specification, ‘A or B’ may include ‘A’, ‘B’, or ‘both A and B’.

FIG.1shows a laundry treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.2shows an interior of a laundry treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

When referring toFIGS.1and2, the laundry treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet10and a drum20. The cabinet10forms an appearance of the laundry treating apparatus1, and a shape thereof may vary.

A control unit30may be disposed in the cabinet10. At least a portion of the control unit30may be exposed to the outside of the cabinet10, and the control unit30may be located at a top of a front face of the cabinet10.

The control unit30may include a display and a manipulation unit that may be manipulated by a user. The display may visually represent an operating state and the like of the laundry treating apparatus1. In addition, the display may further include a sound output unit that may output a sound, and may inform the user of the operating state and the like of the laundry treating apparatus1with the sound through the sound output unit.

The manipulation unit may include a plurality of buttons, or include a dial, a touch pad, and the like, and a command input by the user through the manipulation unit may be transmitted to a controller400. The controller400that controls the laundry treating apparatus1may be equipped inside the control unit30. The controller400may control a driver300and a fluid circulator100as will be described below.

In one example, a laundry inlet15may be defined in the cabinet10, and a laundry door40that opens and closes the laundry inlet15may be disposed on the cabinet10. The laundry inlet15and the laundry door40may be in various shapes at various locations on the cabinet10.

FIG.1shows a state in which the laundry inlet15and the laundry door40are respectively defined in and disposed on a front face of the cabinet10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.1discloses a laundry treating apparatus1in a form of a front loader in which the laundry inlet15and the laundry door40are respectively defined in and disposed on the front face of the cabinet10, but a laundry treating apparatus1of a top loader type in which the laundry inlet15and the laundry door40are respectively defined in and disposed on a top face of the cabinet10is also possible.

The drum20may be disposed inside the cabinet10. The drum20may be constructed to be rotatable, and the laundry may be accommodated in the drum20. The drum20is in communication with the laundry inlet15, so that the laundry input through the laundry inlet15may be accommodated in the drum20.

The drum20may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a space defined therein, and one face thereof may be opened. The open face may face the laundry inlet15of the cabinet10. Therefore, the laundry input through the laundry inlet15may be accommodated in the drum20through the open face of the drum20.

In one example, the drum20may include a lifter that may stir the laundry by ascending and descending the laundry. A gasket for preventing leakage of the laundry may be disposed between the laundry inlet15of the cabinet10and the open face of the drum20.

In one example,FIG.2shows an air circulator200disposed inside the cabinet10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The air circulator200may include a flow channel along which air flows defined therein, and may include a fan210for flowing the air.

The air circulator200may be constructed such that the air flowing inside the air circulator200circulates while passing through the drum20. The air in the air circulator200may be heated while passing through the fluid circulator100to be described later. That is, one embodiment of the present disclosure may correspond to a condensing-type treating apparatus1.

The air circulator200may include a fluid circulator-passing portion240. The fluid circulator-passing portion240may be constructed to pass through at least a portion of the fluid circulator100, and may serve as a path along which internal air is dehumidified and heated while passing through the fluid circulator100.

The air circulator200may further include an air introducing portion220. The air introducing portion220may correspond to a flow path of air that connects the fluid circulator-passing portion240with the drum20. High-temperature and low-humidity air that has passed through the fluid circulator-passing portion240may flow along the air introducing portion220and be supplied into the drum20.

The high-temperature and low-humidity air supplied into the drum20may come into contact with the laundry inside the drum20or pass through the laundry. Moisture in the laundry may be evaporated by the high-temperature and low-humidity air, and air with increased humidity containing the evaporated moisture may be discharged from the drum20.

The air circulator200may further include an air discharging portion230. The air discharging portion230may correspond to a flow path of air that connects the drum20with the fluid circulator-passing portion240. Air discharged from the drum20may flow along the air discharging portion230to reach the fluid circulator-passing portion240, then, may be dehumidified and heated while passing through the fluid circulator-passing portion240, and then, pass through the air introducing portion220again to be supplied into the drum20, so that the drying of the laundry may proceed.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the driver300may be constructed to rotate the drum20and the fan210. That is, the driver300may be connected to the drum20and the fan210to provide a rotational force to the drum20and the fan210.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the driver300may be composed of a single motor or a plurality of motors.FIG.2shows the driver300including a first driver310connected to the drum20and a second driver320connected to the fan210. The first driver310and the second driver320may correspond to motors that consume power to generate rotational forces.

When the driver300includes the first driver310and the second driver320, the first driver310and the second driver320may be in different operating states. For example, the controller400may be connected to the first driver310and the second driver320to allow RPMs of the first driver310and the second driver320to be different from each other, allow one of the first driver310and the second driver320to be operated, or allow RPM change rates of the first driver310and the second driver320to be different from each other.

In one example,FIG.3shows the fluid circulator100and the air circulator200according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.4shows an operating relationship between the fluid circulator100and the air circulator200according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

At least a portion of the fluid circulator100and the air circulator200may be disposed on a base disposed on a bottom face of the laundry treating apparatus1, and the fluid circulator100may circulate fluid by repeating an endothermic process and an exothermic process.

The fluid circulator100may include a condenser110, a compressor120, an expansion valve140, and an evaporator130through which the fluid circulates. There may be various fluid types. The fluid may be compressed while passing through the compressor120, then release heat to the outside while passing through the condenser110, then, be decreased in a pressure while passing through the expansion valve140, and then, absorb heat from the outside while passing through the evaporator130.

That is, the fluid in the fluid circulator100may repeat a circulation process of being supplied to the compressor120again after performing the endothermic process and the exothermic process while sequentially passing through the compressor120, the condenser110, the expansion valve140, and the evaporator130.

The condenser110and the evaporator130of the fluid circulator100may be disposed on the fluid circulator-passing portion240of the air circulator200. That is, the air flowing along the fluid circulator-passing portion240in the air circulator200passes through the evaporator130and the condenser110of the fluid circulator100.

A temperature of the air in the air circulator200is reduced by the evaporator130that reduces the temperature of the air, and the moisture in the air is condensed and collected on a surface of the evaporator130and at a lower portion of the evaporator130. As described above, water generated by the evaporator130may be used for washing the interior of the laundry treating apparatus1, utilized during a drying operation, or discharged to the outside as needed.

The air in the air circulator200may be heated while passing through the condenser110that increases the temperature of the air. The air heated after passing through the condenser110may be supplied into the drum20again. That is, the air in the air circulator200may be increased in humidity while passing the interior of the drum20, then be dehumidified while passing through the evaporator130, then be heated while passing through the condenser110, and then be supplied into the drum20again in a high-temperature and low-humidity state.FIG.4conceptually shows a relationship between the fluid circulator100in which the fluid circulates and the air circulator200in which the air circulates.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the fluid circulator100may include a compressor sensor150that measures a temperature of fluid discharged from the compressor120.FIG.3shows the compressor sensor150disposed on a discharge flow channel of the compressor120, andFIG.4conceptually shows a location of the compressor sensor150in the fluid circulator100.

The compressor sensor150may measure the temperature of the fluid discharged from the compressor120. The compressor sensor150may be disposed in the compressor120or disposed on the discharge flow channel of the compressor120along which the fluid discharged from the compressor120flows.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may control the compressor120and the driver300to perform the drying operation of the laundry.

The controller400may be equipped inside the control unit30or inside the cabinet10. The controller400may be connected to the control unit30to receive a command of a user, and may provide information on the driving state to the user through the display of the control unit30.

The controller400may be connected to the fluid circulator100and the driver300to control the fluid circulator100and the driver300. For example, the controller400may control a frequency at which the compressor120operates in the fluid circulator100or control an RPM of the driver300.

In one example, in the drying operation of laundry, the controller400may control the fluid circulator100and the driver300to perform the drying operation in which the laundry is dried. The drying operation may be divided into a plurality of drying processes as will be described below, and the controller400may control operating states of the fluid circulator100and the driver300based on each drying process.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drying operation of laundry may include an efficiency increasing process P10for increasing a drying efficiency G3inside the drum20, an efficiency maintaining process P20for maintaining the drying efficiency G3, and an efficiency decreasing process P30for reducing the drying efficiency G3. That is, one embodiment of the present disclosure may proceed with the drying operation by dividing the drying operation of the laundry into the plurality of drying processes based on the drying efficiency G3.

The drying efficiency G3corresponds to an actual evaporation amount for a theoretical maximum evaporation amount that may occur inside the drum20. For the drying efficiency G3, the theoretical maximum evaporation amount may be calculated from a difference between a maximum absolute humidity for a current temperature of the air discharged from the drum20and a humidity amount of the air supplied into the drum20, and the actual evaporation amount may be calculated from a difference between an actual absolute humidity of the air discharged from the drum20and a humidity amount of the air supplied into the drum20.

A case in which the drying operation is continued for an excessively long time while the drying efficiency G3is low, a case in which power consumption of the driver300, the compressor120, and the like is set unnecessarily although the drying efficiency G3is maximum that may be reached in a current condition, or a case in which the operating states of the driver300, the compressor120, and the like are controlled to maintain the drying efficiency G3high despite the drying operation entering the latter part is disadvantageous in terms of the energy efficiency.

That is, it is important for improving the energy efficiency of the laundry treating apparatus1to identify a change in the drying efficiency G3in the drying operation of the laundry to effectively distinguish the plurality of drying processes, and effectively operate the driver300, the compressor120, and the like to provide proper drying efficiency G3for each drying process.

FIG.6is a graph showing an actual evaporation amount G1inside the drum20in the drying operation of the laundry according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A horizontal axis ofFIG.6represents time, and a vertical axis represents the actual evaporation amount G1. Referring toFIG.6, the actual evaporation amount G1by the drying operation continuously increases in the beginning and middle of the drying operation, and then decreases in the latter part.

It may be understood that the actual evaporation amount G1decreases in the latter part of the drying operation because moisture that may evaporate under the same condition itself decreases as the moisture in the laundry becomes equal to or less than a certain amount, and because the moisture of the laundry becomes equal to or less than the certain amount to reduce the output of the driver300and the compressor120, and thus, to gradually reduce the temperature of the fluid and the temperature of the air.

In one example,FIG.7is a graph showing a moisture amount G2of the laundry in the drying operation of the laundry. A horizontal axis inFIG.7represents time, and a vertical axis represents the moisture amount G2. The graph inFIG.7is a result of calculating the moisture amount G2of the laundry to a total load inside the drum20as a ratio.

Referring toFIG.7, it may be seen that the moisture amount G2of the laundry is reduced throughout the drying operation, but a reduction rate of the moisture amount G2of the laundry increases from the beginning to the middle of the drying operation, and then, decreases again as the latter part proceeds.

That is, rapidly increasing the reduction rate of the moisture amount G2of the laundry in the beginning of the drying operation of the laundry is advantageous for the energy efficiency improvement with the increase of the drying efficiency G3. In addition, flexibly reducing the reduction rate of the moisture amount G2of the laundry in the latter part of the drying operation is advantageous for the energy efficiency improvement because the drying may be performed while effectively reducing the power consumption of the driver300and the compressor120.

FIG.8is a graph showing the drying efficiency G3calculated by the actual evaporation amount for the theoretical maximum evaporation amount that may occur inside the drum20in the drying operation of the laundry according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG.8, a horizontal axis represents time, and a vertical axis represents the drying efficiency G3.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drying operation may be divided into the efficiency increasing process P10, the efficiency maintaining process P20, and the efficiency decreasing process P30. The efficiency increasing process P10corresponds to the drying process for increasing the drying efficiency G3.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may shorten a total time required for the drying operation and improve the energy efficiency by increasing a change rate of the drying efficiency G3through the efficiency increasing process P10to shorten a time to reach a maximum drying efficiency.

The efficiency maintaining process P20is a drying process in which the drying of the laundry is performed while maintaining the drying efficiency G3, which has increased rapidly by the efficiency increasing process P10. In reality, the efficiency maintaining process P20may be performed while allowing a variation within a certain range of the drying efficiency G3resulted from changes in outdoor air, a laundry material, a laundry amount, and the like.

The drying operation of the laundry may reach a maximum region in which, even when the temperature of the fluid in the fluid circulator100or the temperature of the air in the air circulator200are increased through the control of the driver300or the compressor120, the drying efficiency G3is not able to increase any more under the corresponding condition or an increase amount is meaningless.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the efficiency maintaining process P20is a process in which the drying efficiency G3is maintained in the maximum region. The drying efficiency G3in the efficiency maintaining process P20may correspond to a predetermined range value instead of a specific value, and may be a maximum value in the corresponding condition or any value predetermined for substituting the maximum value.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may shorten a delay time for the drying efficiency G3to reach the maximum value by rapidly increasing the drying efficiency G3through the efficiency increasing process P10, and control the driver300, the compressor120, and the like without wasting unnecessary power through the efficiency maintaining process P20, so that the laundry may be dried while maintaining the maximum drying efficiency G3.

In the efficiency decreasing process P30, after the efficiency maintaining process P20, the moisture amount of laundry becomes equal to or less than a certain level, so that the drying efficiency G3is gradually reduced even under the same condition. One embodiment of the present disclosure may appropriately reduce the output of the driver300and the compressor120in the efficiency decreasing process P30, and allow the drying of the laundry to be terminated with cooling of the fluid and the air through the efficiency decreasing process P30.

The efficiency decreasing process P30is a drying process in which the drying efficiency G3is reduced by the reduction of the moisture amount of the laundry itself, and is a drying process for terminating the drying operation while minimizing the unnecessary power consumption of the driver300and the compressor120for increasing the reduced drying efficiency G3.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may divide the drying operation of laundry into the efficiency increasing process P10, the efficiency maintaining process P20, and the efficiency decreasing process P30based on the variation characteristics of the drying efficiency G3, and effectively adjust the drying efficiency G3while minimizing the unnecessary energy consumption to be suitable for each drying process, thereby effectively improving the energy efficiency.

Referring back toFIGS.2and4, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the fluid circulator100may repeat the endothermic and exothermic processes as the fluid circulates, and the air circulator200may further include a humidity sensor250.

The humidity sensor250may measure a humidity of the air passing through drum20. The humidity measured by the humidity sensor250corresponds to an absolute humidity, and the humidity sensor250may measure a temperature of the air together with the humidity.

The humidity sensor250may be disposed in one of the air introducing portion220or the air discharging portion230of the air circulator200. In addition, the humidity sensor250may be disposed in each of the air introducing portion220and the air discharging portion230of the air circulator200.

That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the humidity sensor250may measure a humidity of one of the air flowing into the drum20and the air flowing out of the drum20or measure the humidity of each of the air flowing into the drum20and the air flowing out of the drum20.

FIGS.2and4show the state in which the humidity sensor250is disposed in each of the air introducing portion220and the air discharging portion230according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. That is, the humidity sensor250includes a first humidity sensor252and a second humidity sensor254. In addition, it is shown that the first humidity sensor252is disposed in the air introducing portion220, and the second humidity sensor254is disposed in the air discharging portion230.

However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. The humidity sensor250may include one of the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254. For example, the humidity sensor250may be disposed in the air discharging portion230to measure the humidity of the air discharged from the drum20.

The air introducing portion220may be located adjacent to the compressor of the fluid circulator100. Therefore, a measured value G0of the humidity sensor250may be unstable or unreliable by a temperature of the compressor. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the humidity sensor250may be disposed in the air discharging portion230to measure the humidity of the air discharged from the drum20.

In one example,FIG.5shows a graph showing a humidity value corresponding to the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250in the drying operation of the laundry according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG.5, a horizontal axis represents time, and a vertical axis represents the humidity value G0.

The measured value G0of the humidity sensor250shown inFIG.5corresponds to the absolute humidity. A graph marked with ‘in’ is a measured value of the first humidity sensor252that is disposed in the air introducing portion220and measures the humidity of the air flowing into the drum20. A graph marked with ‘out’ is a measured value of the second humidity sensor254that is disposed in the air discharging portion230and measures the humidity of the air discharged from the drum20. A deviation of the ‘in’ and ‘out’ graphs inFIG.5may eventually correspond to a graph of an evaporation amount of moisture shown inFIG.6.

In addition, as described above, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the humidity sensor250may be able to measure the temperature of the air, so that a theoretical maximum evaporation amount at a corresponding temperature may be derived.

Thus, when the humidity sensor250includes the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254, the controller400may derive a drying efficiency G3ofFIG.8from the measured values of the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254.

In addition, even when the humidity sensor250is composed of only one of the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254, the controller400may be able to derive a drying efficiency G3corresponding to the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250based on the pre-stored graph of the drying efficiency G3.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may perform the drying operation while distinguishing the efficiency increasing process P10, the efficiency maintaining process P20, and the efficiency decreasing process P30from each other using the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250.

As described above, the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250may correspond to a main variable directly related to the drying efficiency G3, and thus, may represent a behavior of the drying efficiency G3in the drying operation of the laundry.

For example, the drying efficiency G3may have a specific behavior in the drying operation of the laundry. The drying efficiency G3at a time point of entering the efficiency maintaining process P20from the efficiency increasing process P10or entering the efficiency decreasing process P30from the efficiency maintaining process P20may have a characteristic distinguished from that at other time points.

Furthermore, similar to the drying efficiency G3, the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250, which is directly related to the drying efficiency G3, may also have a characteristic distinguished from that at other time points at the time point of entering the efficiency maintaining process P20from the efficiency increasing process P10or entering the efficiency decreasing process P30from the efficiency maintaining process P20.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may identify switching time points between the efficiency increasing process P10, the efficiency maintaining process P20, and the efficiency decreasing process P30and distinguish the drying processes from each other using the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250.

There may be various schemes using the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250. For example, the controller400may determine whether the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250corresponds to a specific value corresponding to each entry time point of each drying process, determine whether a change rate of the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250corresponds to a specific change rate corresponding to each entry time point, and derive another index with the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250as a variable and utilize the index value.

For example, as will be described below, the controller400may directly derive the drying efficiency G3from the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250, and determine whether the drying efficiency G3of the corresponding time point corresponds to an efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2or an efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W6.

One embodiment of the present disclosure uses the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250, thereby accurately and effectively distinguishing the plurality of drying processes constituting the drying operation of the laundry from each other. In addition, because efficient control of the compressor120, the first driver310, and the second driver320may be performed for each drying process distinguished as described above, the energy efficiency may be effectively improved.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may identify a termination time point of the efficiency increasing process P10and an entry time point of the efficiency maintaining process P20using the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250in the efficiency increasing process P10.

Referring toFIGS.5and8, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the efficiency increasing process P10proceeds, the drying efficiency G3is gradually increased. When the drying efficiency G3reaches the preset efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2, the controller400may terminate the efficiency increasing process P10and perform the efficiency maintaining process P20.

The efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2may correspond to an efficiency maintaining value of the drying efficiency G3maintained in the efficiency maintaining process P20or may be strategically determined to be a value similar thereto.

In one example, the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250increases overall in the efficiency increasing process P10and in the efficiency maintaining process P20. In the controller400, a humidity value at the entry time point of the efficiency maintaining process P20may be preset as the efficiency maintaining process entry humidity sensor value W1.

In this case, when the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250reaches the efficiency maintaining process entry humidity sensor value W1, the controller400may terminate the efficiency increasing process P10and perform the efficiency maintaining process P20even when the drying efficiency G3is not derived.

When utilizing the humidity sensor250as described above, the drying efficiency G3, which is a direct measure that distinguishes the plurality of drying processes that constitute the drying operation of the laundry from each other, may be directly derived, or the drying processes may be distinguished from each other using the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250, which is closely related to the drying efficiency G3, so that entry of each drying process with high accuracy is possible.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250reaches the preset efficiency maintaining process entry humidity sensor value W1in the efficiency increasing process P10, the controller400may terminate the efficiency increasing process P10and perform the efficiency maintaining process P20.

As described above, the measured value of the humidity sensor250at the time point at which the drying efficiency G3reaches the efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2for entering the efficiency maintaining process P20may be preset, and the measured value may be stored in advance in the controller400as the efficiency maintaining process entry humidity sensor value W1.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250reaches the preset efficiency maintaining process entry humidity sensor value W1, the controller400may terminate the efficiency increasing process P10and perform the efficiency maintaining process P20in the same manner as when the drying efficiency G3enters the efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the humidity sensor250may include the first humidity sensor252that measures the humidity of the air flowing into the drum20and the second humidity sensor254that measures the humidity of the air flowing out of the drum20, and the controller400may calculate the drying efficiency G3from the measured values of the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254, and terminate the efficiency increasing process P10and perform the efficiency maintaining process P20when the drying efficiency G3reaches the preset efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2.

As described above, the humidity sensor250may include the first humidity sensor252in the air introducing portion220and the second humidity sensor254in the air discharging portion230. In this case, the controller400may directly derive the drying efficiency G3shown inFIG.8using the measured values of the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254.

Accordingly, when the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254are disposed, the controller400may calculate the drying efficiency G3from the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250including the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254, and perform the efficiency maintaining process P20while terminating the efficiency increasing process P10when the drying efficiency G3reaches the preset efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2.

The efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2may be a maximum drying efficiency G3from which the drying efficiency G3is no longer able to increase in a corresponding environment, or a value strategically determined to correspond thereto.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the direct index for dividing the drying operation of the laundry into the plurality of drying processes corresponds to the drying efficiency G3. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400directly derive the drying efficiency G3to distinguish the efficiency increasing process P10and the efficiency maintaining process P20from each other, so that very accurate distinguishment becomes possible.

In one example,FIG.9is a graph showing a measured value G4of the compressor sensor150in the drying operation of the laundry according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG.9, a horizontal axis represents time, and a vertical axis represents the temperature of the fluid discharged from the compressor120as the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150reaches the preset efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1in the efficiency increasing process P10, the controller400may terminate the efficiency increasing process P10and perform the efficiency maintaining process P20.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, even when the humidity sensor250has failed or been removed, another measured value that may represent a specific state of the drying efficiency G3may be used to divide the drying operation of the laundry.

Specifically, an embodiment of the present disclosure may identify the time point for terminating the efficiency increasing process P10and entering the efficiency maintaining process P20using the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150. For example, one embodiment of the present disclosure may specify the drying efficiency G3for entering the efficiency maintaining process P20as the efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2, and specify the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150as the efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1in the state in which the drying efficiency G3has reached the efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2.

That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, even when the direct identification of the drying efficiency G3is omitted, when the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150reaches the preset efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1, the controller400may properly control the driver300and the compressor120by entering the efficiency maintaining process P20while terminating the efficiency increasing process P10.

Referring toFIG.9, it may be seen that the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150has a relatively linear change in the drying operation process. Therefore, it is advantageous to specify a measured value for identifying a time point for entering the efficiency maintaining process P20that represents the drying efficiency G3.FIG.9shows the efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In addition, in the efficiency increasing process P10, the compressor120operates at a high frequency as will be described below to increase the temperature of the fluid of the fluid circulator100and the temperature of the air of the air circulator200. Thus, in the efficiency increasing process P10, a discharge temperature of the compressor120may become an index preferentially representing the changes in the temperature of the fluid circulator100and the air circulator200.

Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of accuracy to use the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150by replacing the drying efficiency G3for the time point for the termination of the efficiency increasing process P10and the entry of the efficiency maintaining process P20.

After all, one embodiment of the present disclosure may utilize the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150disposed to control the fluid circulator100even in a situation in which the humidity sensor250has failed to identify a condition for the termination of the efficiency increasing process P10and the entry of the efficiency maintaining process P20with high reliability.

In one example,FIG.4schematically shows a location of an evaporator sensor160in the laundry treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG.11shows a graph showing a measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160in the drying operation of the laundry. InFIG.11, a horizontal axis represents time, and a vertical axis represents a temperature of fluid discharged from the evaporator130as the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the fluid circulator100may further include the evaporator sensor160for measuring the temperature of the fluid flowing into or out of the evaporator130. The controller400may perform the efficiency maintaining process P20when the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160reaches a preset efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2in the state in which the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150has reached the efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1.

The evaporator sensor160may be disposed at an inlet or an outlet of the evaporator130to measure a temperature of the fluid passing through the evaporator130. The evaporator sensor160may be disposed in the evaporator130or disposed on an inflow channel or an outflow channel of the evaporator130.

The evaporator sensor160may be disposed on one of the inflow channel and the outflow channel of the evaporator130, or may be disposed on each of the inflow channel and the outflow channel of the evaporator130. The graph shown inFIG.11shows the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160disposed on the outflow channel of the evaporator130according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, controller400may terminate the efficiency increasing process P10and perform the efficiency maintaining process P20when the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160reaches the efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2in the state in which the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150has reached the efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1. The efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2may correspond to the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160when the drying efficiency G3corresponds to the efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may set the efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1and the efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2as entry conditions for the efficiency maintaining process P20entry to enter the efficiency maintaining process P20, thereby further improving the accuracy by checking whether to enter the efficiency maintaining process P20multiple times.

Furthermore, when the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150shows an abnormal behavior or a failure of the compressor sensor150is identified, instead of determining the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150, the controller400may determine whether to enter the efficiency maintaining process P20using the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160, thereby improving a performance stability of the drying operation.

That is, one embodiment of the present disclosure may utilize at least one of the measured value of the humidity sensor250, the drying efficiency G3, the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150, and the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160in an overlapping or replacing manner to distinguish the plurality of drying processes, thereby greatly improving accuracy and stability.

In one example,FIG.2schematically shows the outdoor air sensor50disposed in the laundry treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.12shows a graph showing the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150and the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160corrected based on a change in a temperature of the outdoor air according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

InFIG.12, a horizontal axis represents the outdoor air temperature as the measured value G6of the outdoor air sensor50, and a vertical axis corresponds to correction values for the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150and the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160.

When referring toFIGS.2and12, one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include an outdoor air sensor50for measuring a temperature of the air outside the cabinet10, and the controller400may correct the efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1and the efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2to higher values as a measured value G6of the outdoor air sensor50is higher.

The outdoor air sensor50may measure the temperature of the air outside cabinet10. The outdoor air sensor50may be disposed such that at least a portion thereof is exposed to the outside of the cabinet10or may be disposed inside the cabinet10.

Changes in the outdoor air may affect a fluid density, an operating condition of the fluid circulator100, the theoretical maximum evaporation amount that is the variable of the drying efficiency G3, and the like. Therefore, when the above-mentioned efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1and efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2are corrected based on the outdoor air condition, it becomes possible to more accurately determine the entry time point of the efficiency maintaining process P20.

In one example, inFIG.12, a horizontal axis corresponds to the measured value G6of the outdoor air sensor50, and a vertical axis corresponds to a temperature value. The measured value G4of the compressor sensor150shown inFIG.12corresponds to the above-described efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1, and the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160corresponds to the aforementioned efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2.

Referring toFIG.12, an embodiment of the present disclosure may correct the efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1and the efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2to the higher values as the temperature of the outdoor air increases.

The increase in the outdoor air temperature may increase the aforementioned theoretical maximum evaporation amount inside the drum20, and thus the drying efficiency G3may be lowered. Accordingly, in order for the drying efficiency G3to reach the preset efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2, it is necessary to correct the efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1and the efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2to the higher values.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may effectively determine the entry time point of each drying process without adding the sensor using the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150or the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160that may represent the specific value or the specific range of the drying efficiency G3, and may determine the highly reliable entry time point of the efficiency maintaining process P20or the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30despite the changes in the outdoor air using the outdoor air sensor50. Furthermore, the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250, that is, the efficiency maintaining process entry humidity sensor value W1or the like may be corrected using the measured value G6of the outdoor air sensor50.

Referring back toFIG.8, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drying operation of the laundry may include a first efficiency increasing process P12and a second efficiency increasing process P14. That is, the efficiency increasing section may include the first efficiency increasing process P12and the second efficiency increasing process P14performed after termination of the first efficiency increasing process P12.

The controller400may control the driver300and the fluid circulator100, for example, the compressor120, such that an increase rate of the drying efficiency G3is higher in the first efficiency increasing process P12than in the second efficiency increasing process P14.

Specifically, an embodiment of the present disclosure may divide the efficiency increasing process P10into the first efficiency increasing process P12and the second efficiency increasing process P14, rapidly increase the fluid temperature of the fluid circulator100in the first efficiency increasing process P12, and stabilize the operating states of the fluid circulator100and the air circulator200in the second efficiency increasing process P14to allow the drying efficiency G3to stably reach the efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2.

Referring toFIG.8, it may be seen that the increase rate of the drying efficiency G3is higher in the first efficiency increasing process P12than in the second efficiency increasing process P14. It may be seen that the drying efficiency G3gradually reaches the efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2while showing a relatively low increase rate in the second efficiency increasing process P14.

The efficiency increasing process P10increases the drying efficiency G3rapidly so as to shorten the delay time to the entry time point of the efficiency maintaining process P20and further shorten an overall drying operation time. However, when the second efficiency increasing process P14is omitted and the drying efficiency G3is rapidly increased before the entry of the efficiency maintaining process P20, after entering the efficiency maintaining process P20, sudden changes in the operating states of the driver300and the compressor120may cause instability of circulation cycles of the fluid circulator100and the air circulator200.

Accordingly, unstable fluctuations in the drying efficiency G3may occur during the entry of the efficiency maintaining process P20, which may worsen a drying effect of the laundry throughout the efficiency maintaining process P20.

Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure may efficiently secure an overall performance stability of the laundry drying operation as the controller400performs the second efficiency increasing process P14that may stabilize the fluid circulator100and the air circulator200with an increase in the drying efficiency G3more gentle than in the first efficiency increasing process P12after performing the first efficiency increasing process P12for the rapid increase of the drying efficiency G3.

The controller400controls the driver300and the fluid circulator100in various schemes to perform the drying operation while allowing the increase rate of the drying efficiency G3in the second efficiency increasing process P14to be lower than the increase rate of the drying efficiency G3in the first efficiency increasing process P12.

For example, as will be described later, the controller400may control the driver300such that an RPM G8of the fan210is higher in the second efficiency increasing process P14than the first efficiency increasing process P12while maintaining a frequency G9of the compressor120.

The RPM G8of the fan210in the efficiency maintaining process P20may be higher than the RPM G8of the fan210in the efficiency increasing process P10. Therefore, the RPM G8of the fan210in the second efficiency increasing process P14, which has a higher value than in the first efficiency increasing process P12, may reduce an increase rate of the fluid temperature of the fluid circulator100and ultimately reduce the increase rate of the drying efficiency G3. In addition, the RPM G8of the fan210in the second efficiency increasing process P14may have a value relatively close to the RPM G8of the fan210in the efficiency maintaining process P20, thereby contributing to the stabilization of the drying operation.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may perform the second efficiency increasing process P14after performing the first efficiency increasing process P12for a preset first efficiency increasing process execution time T1.

That is, when the first efficiency increasing process execution time T1is preset and the drying operation of the laundry is in progress, the controller400may enter the second efficiency increasing process P14after performing the first efficiency increasing process P12for the first efficiency increasing process execution time T1.

In the first efficiency increasing process P12, as the fluid circulator100and the air circulator200in an operation stop state are operated to rapidly increase the drying efficiency G3, accidental fluctuations of the compressor sensor150or the evaporator sensor160may occur. Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure may perform the first efficiency increasing process P12for a predetermined time to promote the overall operation stabilization of the laundry treating apparatus1and effectively perform the first efficiency increasing process P12.

However, when necessary, a drying efficiency G3of the second efficiency increasing process P14for entering the second efficiency increasing process P14may be determined, and the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150or the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160corresponding to the drying efficiency G3of the second efficiency increasing process P14may be used.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250reaches the preset second efficiency increasing process entry humidity sensor value W3, the controller400may terminate the first efficiency increasing process and perform the second efficiency increasing process.FIG.5shows the second efficiency increasing process entry humidity sensor value W3according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a second efficiency increasing process entry drying efficiency W4preset for the termination of the first efficiency increasing process and the entry of the second efficiency increasing process may be determined, When the drying efficiency G3is the second efficiency increasing process entry drying efficiency W4, the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250may be determined as the second efficiency increasing process entry humidity sensor value W3.

In this case, when the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250reaches the preset second efficiency increasing process entry humidity sensor value W3, the controller400may perform the second efficiency increasing process P14while terminating the first efficiency increasing process P12. The utilization of the humidity sensor250may be performed by distinguishing the first efficiency increasing process and the second efficiency increasing process from each other more accurately than in the performance of the first efficiency increasing process by utilizing the predetermined first efficiency increasing process execution time T1.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the humidity sensor250may include the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254. The controller400may calculate the drying efficiency G3from the measured values of the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254, and may terminate the first efficiency increasing process P12and perform the second efficiency increasing process P14when the drying efficiency G3reaches the preset second efficiency increasing process entry drying efficiency W4.

FIG.8shows the second efficiency increasing process entry drying efficiency W4preset for the entry of the second efficiency increasing process P14according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As described above, the humidity sensor250may include the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254. In this case, the controller400may derive the drying efficiency G3from the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250. Therefore, when the drying efficiency G3derived from the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250reaches the second efficiency increasing process entry drying efficiency W4, the controller400may terminate the first efficiency increasing process P12and perform the second efficiency increasing process P14.

The direct derivation of the drying efficiency G3and the utilization of the drying efficiency G3for the entry of the second efficiency increasing process P14may have very high reliability as the drying efficiency G3, which is the direct index for distinguishing the first efficiency increasing process P12and the second efficiency increasing process P14from each other is used.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, in the first efficiency increasing process P12, an increase rate of the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150may be greater than in the second efficiency increasing process P14. That is, controller400may control the driver300and the compressor120such that the increase rate of the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150in the first efficiency increasing process P12is greater than the increase rate of the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150in the second efficiency increasing process P14.

FIG.9shows the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150in the first efficiency increasing process P12and the second efficiency increasing process P14. The increase rate of the measured value may be an increase rate at a corresponding time point, or may correspond to an average increase rate of each drying process. The average increase rate may be derived from a difference between a measured value at the time of entry and a measured value at the time of termination of each drying process.

That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, a total increase amount of the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150through the first efficiency increasing process P12may be greater than a total increase amount of the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150through the second efficiency increasing process P14.

The controller400may control the driver300and the compressor120to allow the increase rate of the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150in the first efficiency increasing process P12is greater than in the second efficiency increasing process P14. However, it does not necessarily mean that the frequency G9of the compressor120in the first efficiency increasing process P12is greater than in the second efficiency increasing process P14.

For example, one embodiment of the present disclosure may change the RPM G8of the fan210while maintaining the frequency G9of the compressor120constant to allow the increase rate of the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150in the first efficiency increasing process P12to be greater than in the second efficiency increasing process P14.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drying operation may further include the efficiency decreasing process P30that is performed after the efficiency maintaining process P20as described above. The controller400may control the driver300and the compressor120such that the drying efficiency G3in the efficiency decreasing process P30is lower than in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

For example, the controller400may reduce at least one of the RPM of the driver300or the frequency G9of the compressor120in at least a portion of the efficiency decreasing process P30to allow the drying efficiency G3of the efficiency decreasing process P30to be lower than in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may identify the termination time point of the efficiency maintaining process P20and the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30using the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250.

For example, the controller400may determine whether the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250corresponds to a preset value of the humidity sensor250for the efficiency decreasing process entry, and may determine whether the drying efficiency G3calculated from the humidity sensor250corresponds to the preset efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W6.

The scheme using the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250may vary as needed, and thus the characteristics of the humidity sensor250may also be varied. One embodiment of the present disclosure may effectively identify the termination time point of the efficiency increasing process P10and the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30using the measured value of the humidity sensor250, which is the direct index for the derivation of the drying efficiency G3.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when a change rate of the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250reaches a preset efficiency decreasing process entry humidity change rate W5, the controller400may terminate the efficiency maintaining process P20and perform the efficiency decreasing process P30.FIG.5shows the efficiency decreasing process entry humidity change rate W5preset according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Specifically, when the moisture amount of the laundry becomes equal to or below a certain level, the drying efficiency G3becomes naturally reduced even in the same condition. The present disclosure may properly control the driver300and the fluid circulator100by distinguishing such reduction process of the drying efficiency G3as the efficiency decreasing process P30.

As above, in the efficiency decreasing process P30, because the moisture evaporation amount of the laundry decreases, the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250shown inFIG.5also gradually decreases. Therefore, the change rate of measured value G0of the humidity sensor250may become an index representing the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30.

The efficiency decreasing process entry humidity change rate W5may be set variously as needed. InFIG.5, the efficiency decreasing process entry humidity change rate W5is marked on the measured value of the humidity sensor250of the air discharged from the drum20. The efficiency decreasing process entry humidity change rate W5is marked to have a negative value.

However, such efficiency decreasing process entry humidity change rate W5may have not only the negative value, but also 0 or a positive value, which may be strategically variously determined as needed. When using the humidity change rate, it becomes possible to more accurately identify the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30.

In one example, the humidity sensor250may include the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254. The controller400may calculate the drying efficiency G3from the measured values of the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254, and terminate the efficiency maintaining process P20and perform the efficiency decreasing process P30when the drying efficiency G3reaches the preset efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W6.

In this case, as the drying efficiency G3, which is a criterion for distinguishing the efficiency maintaining process P20and the efficiency decreasing process P30from each other, is directly calculated, the controller400may clearly identify the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30, which is advantageous.FIG.8shows the efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W6corresponding to the entry condition of the efficiency decreasing process P30according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the change rate of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160reaches a preset efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3, the controller400may terminate the efficiency maintaining process P20and perform the efficiency decreasing process P30.FIG.11shows a graph marked with the efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3.

When the moisture amount of the laundry becomes equal to or less than a certain amount in the efficiency maintaining process P20, the humidity amount of the air discharged from drum20starts to decrease. Accordingly, the amount of water condensed in the evaporator130also decreases. In addition, as the humidity amount decreases, an amount of heat absorption of the fluid inside the evaporator130that absorbs heat through the condensation process of water also decreases, resulting in a decrease in temperature.

That is, a time point at which a change rate of the temperature of the fluid discharged from the evaporator130measured by the evaporator sensor160has a negative value or the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160at the corresponding time point may represent the entry time point of the decreasing efficiency section where the drying efficiency G3is decreased as the drying of the laundry proceeds over a certain level.

The temperature of the fluid passing through the evaporator130may be varied by various factors. However, in the efficiency decreasing process P30, the increase and decrease in the fluid temperature of the evaporator130relatively faithfully reflect the change in the humidity amount. Thus, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the change rate of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160reaches the preset efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3, the efficiency decreasing process P30by the controller400may be performed.

However, the efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3is not necessarily limited to the negative value. Even 0 or a positive value close to 0 of a slope of the graph of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160may be determined as the efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3as needed.

In addition, referring toFIG.11, the instantaneous change of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160may occur by various causes. Accordingly, the graph of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160microscopically includes noise. One embodiment of the present disclosure may remove the noise with various schemes and identify the change rate of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160.

For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may derive an average value for each unit section for the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160, and may determine whether the change rate of the average value corresponds to the efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3.

Such an average scheme may be advantageous in removing meaningless variation measured in the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160and deriving substantially meaningful measured value and change rate.

In one example, in the efficiency decreasing process P30, the temperature reduction of the fluid circulator100is from the evaporator130. Thus, one embodiment of the present disclosure may determine the efficiency decreasing process P30with excellent reliability using the change rate of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160representing the temperature change in the efficiency decreasing process P30by replacing the drying efficiency G3.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may terminate the efficiency maintaining process P20and perform the efficiency decreasing process P30when the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150reaches a preset efficiency decreasing process entry compressor sensor value V4.FIG.9shows a graph marked with the efficiency decreasing process entry compressor sensor value V4.

In the fluid circulator100, as the fluid circulates through the evaporator130and the compressor120, the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150may exhibit a similar behavior to the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160. For example, as shown inFIG.9, the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150exhibits a decreasing behavior when entering the efficiency decreasing process P30.

Therefore, the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150becomes to have a specific value at the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30. One embodiment of the present disclosure may set the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150at the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30to the efficiency decreasing process entry compressor sensor value V4.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drum20is provided with an electrode sensor25for measuring the moisture amount in contact with the laundry. The controller400may terminate the efficiency maintaining process P20and perform the efficiency decreasing process P30when the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25reaches a preset efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V5.

That is, one embodiment of the present disclosure includes the drum20rotatably disposed inside the cabinet10and including the electrode sensor25for measuring the moisture amount of the laundry accommodated therein, and the fluid circulator100including the condenser110, the compressor120, and the evaporator130along which the fluid circulates. The drying operation includes the efficiency maintaining process P20for maintaining the drying efficiency G3inside the drum20and the efficiency decreasing process P30for decreasing the drying efficiency G3. The controller400may terminate the efficiency maintaining process P20and perform the efficiency decreasing process P30when the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25reaches the preset efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V5.

Specifically, the electrode sensor25may be disposed in the drum20as shown inFIGS.2and3to measure the moisture amount of the laundry accommodated inside the drum20. For example, the electrode sensor25may include a pair of electrodes, and may measure the moisture amount of the laundry by analyzing conduction characteristics occurred in the pair of electrodes when in contact with the laundry.

FIG.10shows a graph indicating a measured value G10of the electrode sensor25in the drying operation of the laundry in one embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG.10, a horizontal axis represents time, and a vertical axis is the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25and is related to the moisture amount of the laundry. The measured value G10of the electrode sensor25may correspond to a resistance value measured in a state in which current flows in the presence of moisture.

For example, the lower the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25inFIG.10, the higher the moisture amount of the laundry, and the higher the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25, the lower the moisture amount of the laundry.

The measured value G10of the electrode sensor25shows slight fluctuations when the moisture amount of the laundry is equal to or greater than a certain amount, and shows an increasing behavior as the moisture amount of the laundry becomes less than the certain amount.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a time point at which the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25increases is similar to the time point at which the change rate of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160corresponds to the efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3. Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure may determine that the efficiency decreasing process P30is started when the measured value G10of electrode sensor25increases and reaches the efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency G3or the efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V5representing the efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may determine the efficiency decreasing process P30and control the driver300, the compressor120, and the like by utilizing the electrode sensor25and the temperature sensor that may be commonly used for the operation of the laundry treating apparatus1, thereby effectively improving the energy efficiency.

As such, one embodiment of the present disclosure may utilize at least one of the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250, the drying efficiency G3, the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150, the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160, and the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25in an overlapping or replacing manner, thereby effectively entering the efficiency decreasing process P30in various situations.

In one example, an embodiment of the present disclosure may utilize the measured values of the different sensors together to more reliably determine the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the change rate of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160reaches the preset efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3or the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150reaches the preset efficiency decreasing process entry compressor sensor value V4in the state in which the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25has reached the efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V5, the controller400may terminate the efficiency maintaining process P20and perform the efficiency decreasing process P30.

As such, one embodiment of the present disclosure may determine the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30using the measured values measured by the plurality of sensors in multiple ways, thereby improving accuracy and stably determining the efficiency decreasing process P30.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drying operation may include a laundry amount determination process P11in which the controller400controls the driver300to rotate the drum20and determines the amount of laundry inside the drum20.

The laundry amount determination process P11is a process for determining the amount of laundry accommodated inside drum20. The controller400may control the driver300to determine the amount of laundry inside the drum20while rotating the drum20in a preset pattern.

For example, the driver300may rotate the drum20at a preset RPM in one direction and the other direction, and the controller400may determine the amount of laundry by identifying a back electromotive force and the like of the driver300generated during the rotation and stop processes of the drum20.

The amount of laundry identified through laundry amount determination process P11may be used in various schemes. Specifically, the controller400may perform the efficiency decreasing process P30when the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25reaches the efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V5in a case in which the amount of laundry is equal to or greater than a preset small amount reference value.

The electrode sensor25may be disposed on the drum20to measure the moisture amount of laundry in contact with the laundry, and may be located in a region of an inner face of the drum20. For example, the electrode sensor25may be disposed adjacent to a front portion of the drum20, that is, the open face of the drum20.

When the drum20is rotated in the drying operation, the laundry tends to be moved to be distributed to one side of the drum20. In general, when the drum20rotates, the laundry may have a tendency to move toward the front portion of the drum20, that is, the open face of the drum20.

Based on such movement tendency of the laundry, the electrode sensor25may be disposed adjacent to the open face of the drum20to induce contact with the laundry. However, when the amount of laundry is equal to or less than a certain level, the contact between the contact sensor and the laundry may not be made or may be unstable despite the movement tendency of the laundry.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure sets an amount of laundry with which the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25loses reliability by a poor contact relationship between the electrode sensor25and the laundry in advance as the small amount reference value. The measured value G10of the electrode sensor25shown inFIG.10is a value measured with the amount of laundry equal to or greater than the small amount reference value.

The small amount reference value may be set by identifying a change in the behavior of the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25based on the amount of laundry. For example, when a maximum amount of laundry accommodated inside drum20is determined to be 16 KG by design, a 3 KG load may be set as the small amount reference value when the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25is not able to correspond to the change in the moisture amount of laundry with the amount of laundry equal to or less than 3 KG. However, there may be various specific values for the maximum amount of laundry or the small amount reference value.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may determine the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30using the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25in the state in which the controller400has identified that the amount of laundry is equal to or greater than the small amount reference value, thereby effectively improving reliability of determination of conditions for entering the efficiency decreasing process P30using the electrode sensor25.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the amount of laundry is less than the small amount reference value, the controller400may terminate the efficiency maintaining process P20and perform the efficiency decreasing process P30when the change rate of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160reaches the preset efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3or the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150reaches the preset efficiency decreasing process entry compressor sensor value V4.

As described above, when the amount of laundry is less than the small amount reference value, determining the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30using the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25may have low reliability and efficiency. Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure may determine the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30using the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160or the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150when the amount of laundry is less than the small amount reference value.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the efficiency decreasing process P30may include a first efficiency decreasing process P32and a second efficiency decreasing process P34performed after termination of the first efficiency decreasing process P32. The controller400may control the driver300and the compressor120such that a reduction rate of the drying efficiency G3in the first efficiency decreasing process P32is lower than in the second efficiency decreasing process P34.

FIG.8shows the first efficiency decreasing process P32and the second efficiency decreasing process P34, and shows that the reduction rate of the drying efficiency G3in the first efficiency decreasing process P32is lower than the reduction rate of the drying efficiency G3in the second efficiency decreasing process P34.

Unlike the efficiency maintaining process P20, the efficiency decreasing process P30is a drying process in which the drying efficiency G3is naturally reduced as the moisture amount of laundry becomes equal to or less than a certain level. Therefore, the efficiency decreasing process P30may correspond to the latter part of the drying process of the laundry, and may mean that the drying of the laundry has progressed over a certain level.

However, referring toFIG.7, even when the efficiency decreasing process P30is started, the moisture of laundry still exists, so that it is necessary to continue the drying operation. Therefore, even when there is the reduction in the drying efficiency G3, it is necessary to continuously remove the moisture from the laundry by continuing the drying.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the efficiency decreasing process P30may include the first efficiency decreasing process P32in which the drying efficiency G3is gradually reduced and the drying of the laundry proceeds over a certain level, and the second efficiency decreasing process P34that prepares the operation termination of the fluid circulator, the air circulator200, and the like and performs a cooling process after the first efficiency decreasing process P32.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may perform the first efficiency decreasing process P32in which the drying of the laundry proceeds such that the drying operation of the laundry may be completely performed even in the efficiency decreasing process P30, and perform the second efficiency decreasing process P34in which the cooling process of the air and the fluid and the preparation process for the operation termination of each driving apparatus are performed after the first efficiency decreasing process P32, thereby performing the efficient drying operation based on the change in the drying efficiency G3.

The controller400may control the driver300, the compressor120, and the like to perform the first efficiency decreasing process P32and the second efficiency decreasing process P34. Strategies for controlling the driver300, the compressor120, and the like in the first efficiency decreasing process P32and in the second efficiency decreasing process P34may be various.

For example, the controller400may allow the output of the driver300and the compressor120to be lower in the first efficiency decreasing process P32than in the efficiency maintaining process P20, and allow the output of the driver300and the compressor120to be lower in the second efficiency decreasing process P34than in the first efficiency decreasing process P32or terminate the output of the driver300and the compressor120. Accordingly, the controller400may control the driver300, the compressor120, and the like such that the reduction rate of the drying efficiency G3is lower in the second efficiency decreasing process P34than the reduction rate of the drying efficiency G3in the first efficiency decreasing process P32.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may determine a termination time point of the first efficiency decreasing process P32and an entry time point of the second efficiency decreasing process P34using the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250.

For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250reaches a preset second efficiency decreasing process entry humidity sensor value W7in the first efficiency decreasing process P32, the controller400may terminate the first efficiency decreasing process P32and perform the second efficiency decreasing process P34.FIG.5shows the second efficiency decreasing process entry humidity sensor value W7preset according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the first efficiency decreasing process P32, the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250is continuously decreased as shown inFIG.5by the reduction of the evaporation amount of the moisture of the laundry and control strategies of the driver300and the fluid circulator400. Accordingly, the measured value G0of the humidity sensor250may become an index representing the entry time point of the second efficiency decreasing process P34.

The second efficiency decreasing process entry humidity sensor value W7may be set variously as needed.FIG.5shows the second efficiency decreasing process entry humidity sensor value W7marked on the measured value of the humidity sensor250of the air discharged from the drum20.

In one example, the humidity sensor250may include the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254, and the controller400may calculate the drying efficiency G3from the measured values of the first humidity sensor252and the second humidity sensor254, and terminate the first efficiency decreasing process P32and perform the second efficiency decreasing process P34when the drying efficiency G3reaches a preset second efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W8.

In this case, as the drying efficiency G3, which is a criterion for distinguishing the first efficiency decreasing process P32and the second efficiency decreasing process P34from each other, is directly calculated, the controller400may clearly identify the entry time point of the second efficiency decreasing process P34, which is advantageous.FIG.8shows the second efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W8corresponding to the entry condition of the second efficiency decreasing process P34according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25in the first efficiency decreasing process P32corresponds to a preset second efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V6during a preset observation time T4, the controller400may terminate the first efficiency decreasing process P32and perform the second efficiency decreasing process P34.FIG.10shows a graph of the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25in which the second efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V6and the observation time T4are indicated.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the entry of the second efficiency decreasing process P34may be performed using the electrode sensor25. Because the electrode sensor25measures the amount of moisture remaining in the laundry, it is advantageous in determining the termination time point of the first efficiency decreasing process P32at which the drying of the laundry is substantially completed.

For example, a drying efficiency G3in a state in which the moisture of the laundry is sufficiently removed to terminate the drying may be set as the second efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W8, and a time point at which a current drying efficiency G3reaches the second efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W8may be identified by determining the graph of the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25.

In one example, as shown inFIG.10, in electrode sensor25, it is difficult to measure the fluctuation in the resistance value in a state in which the moisture amount of laundry is too large, so that the measured value G10appears substantially constant. Even in a state in which the moisture amount of laundry is too small, it is difficult to measure the fluctuation in the resistance value, so that the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25appears substantially constant.

Considering such characteristics of the electrode sensor25, when the drying efficiency G3is reduced to be equal to or below a certain level in the efficiency decreasing process P30, the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25does not show the fluctuation enough to distinguish the second efficiency decreasing process P34. Thus, one embodiment of the present disclosure may determine the entry time point of the second efficiency decreasing process P34from the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25by reflecting the observation time T4.

For example, when a drying efficiency G3in a state in which the moisture of the laundry is sufficiently removed to terminate the first efficiency decreasing process P32is set as the second efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W8, even when the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25has already reached a maximum value or a preset specific value before the current drying efficiency G3reaches the second efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W8, a time required for the drying efficiency G3to reach the second efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency after reaching the specific value may be specified. An embodiment of the present disclosure may determine such time required as the observation time T4in advance and reflect the observation time T4in the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25, thereby determining the entry time point of the second efficiency decreasing process P34.

That is, one embodiment of the present disclosure may set the maximum value measurable by the electrode sensor25or the specific value that may represent the same as the second efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V6, and determine the time point at which the observation time T4has elapsed after the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25reaches the second efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V6as the entry time point of the second efficiency decreasing process P34.

When the observation time T4elapses after the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25reaches the second efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V6, the drying efficiency G3may already has reached the second efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W8.

As above, one embodiment of the present disclosure may determine the entry time point of the second efficiency decreasing process P34through the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25that may directly indicate the moisture amount of laundry, so that the reliability may be improved. In addition, even in a situation in which the moisture amount of the laundry is out of the measurable range of the electrode sensor25, the entry time point of the second efficiency decreasing process P34may be efficiently identified by introducing the observation time T4.

In one example, when the amount of laundry identified in the laundry amount determination process P11equal to or greater than the preset small amount reference value, one embodiment of the present disclosure may secure the reliability of the determination of the entry time point of each drying process using the electrode sensor25as described above.

That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the amount of laundry is equal to or greater than the preset small amount reference value, the controller400may perform the second efficiency decreasing process P34when the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25reaches the second efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V6.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the amount of laundry is less than the small amount reference value, the controller400may perform the second efficiency decreasing process P34after performing the first efficiency decreasing process P32for a preset first efficiency decreasing process execution time T2.

For example, when the amount of laundry inside the drum20is less than the small amount reference value, and thus, the reliability of the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25is lowered, one embodiment of the present disclosure may determine the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30using the measured value G4of the evaporator sensor160or the compressor sensor150as described above.

In addition, based on the change in the drying efficiency G3, the time required from the entry time point of the efficiency decreasing process P30to the entry time point of the second efficiency decreasing process P34may be set as the first efficiency decreasing process execution time T2in advance, so that the entry time point of the second efficiency decreasing process P34may be efficiently determined even when it is difficult to use the electrode sensor25.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure may efficiently perform the first efficiency decreasing process P32and the second efficiency decreasing process P34, which are distinguished based on the drying efficiency G3, even without additionally including the expensive sensor and the like.

In one example, the controller400may perform the second efficiency decreasing process P34for the preset second efficiency decreasing process execution time T3after performing the first efficiency decreasing process P32.

The second efficiency decreasing process P34is a drying process for terminating the operation cycle of each component of the laundry treating apparatus1and performing the cooling process. Thus, instead of being performed based on the change in the drying efficiency G3and the like, the second efficiency decreasing process P34may be terminated after being performed for a preset second efficiency decreasing process execution time T3.

The second efficiency decreasing process execution time T3may be variously determined as a period during which cooling of the fluid of the fluid circulator100or the air of the air circulator200is completed as the temperature thereof becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined level, and driving of each driving apparatus is stably terminated.

In one example,FIGS.13and14show graphs showing changes in an RPM G7of the drum20, an RPM G8of the fan210, and a frequency G9of the compressor120in each drying process of the drying operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

InFIGS.13and14, a horizontal axis corresponds to time, and a vertical axis corresponds to the RPMs G7and G8of the drum20and the fan210and the frequency (HZ) G9of the compressor.

FIG.13corresponds to a case in which the amount of laundry inside the drum20is less than a preset large amount reference value, andFIG.14corresponds to a case in which the amount of laundry inside the drum20is equal to or greater than the large amount reference value.

That is,FIG.13corresponds to a normal load mode based on the amount of laundry, andFIG.14corresponds to a heavy load mode. Details of the normal load mode and the heavy load mode will be described later.

Referring toFIGS.13and14, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may control the frequency G9of the compressor120to be higher in the efficiency increasing process P10than in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

The efficiency increasing process P10is a drying process that requires a rapid increase in the drying efficiency G3. Therefore, the fluid temperature of the fluid circulator100needs to be increased rapidly. Accordingly, the controller400may control the compressor120such that the frequency G9of the compressor120in the efficiency increasing process P10is higher than in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

In one example, the controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G8of the fan210in the first efficiency increasing process P12is lower than in the second efficiency increasing process P14.

In the efficiency increasing process P10, the first efficiency increasing process P12corresponds to a process of rapidly increasing the fluid temperature of the fluid circulator100. The second efficiency increasing process P14may be performed to stabilize the operation cycles of the fluid circulator100and the air circulator200with a relatively gentle increase in the fluid temperature.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure may reduce the RPM G8of the fan210to reduce an amount of heat transferred from the fluid of the fluid circulator100to the air of the air circulator200in the first efficiency increasing process P12, and may operate the fan210at a higher RPM than that in the second efficiency increasing process P14such that the RPM G8of the fan210in the second efficiency increasing process P14is the same as that in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

As such, one embodiment of the present disclosure may control the driver300based on the characteristics of the first efficiency increasing process P12and the second efficiency increasing process P14, thereby more efficiently performing the efficiency increasing process P10and efficiently improving the energy efficiency.

In one example, the controller400may control the compressor120such that the frequency G9of the compressor120is constant in the efficiency increasing process P10. That is, the frequency G9of the compressor120may be maintained the same in the first efficiency increasing process P12and the second efficiency increasing process P14.

For the fluid circulator100, a stabilization time based on a fluctuation of the frequency G9of the compressor120is important. Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure may adjust the change rate of the drying efficiency G3by changing the RPM G8of the fan210while maintaining the frequency G9of the compressor120despite the changes in the first efficiency increasing process P12and the second efficiency increasing process P14, thereby efficiently performing the efficiency increasing process P10.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the driver300may include the first driver310rotating the drum20and the second driver320rotating the fan210.FIGS.2to4show the driver300including the first driver310rotating the drum20and the second driver320rotating the fan210.

The operation of the first driver310and the second driver320may be controlled by the controller400, and may be controlled independently of each other. For example, the controller400may operate only one of the first driver310and the second driver320, may control the RPMs of the first driver310and second driver320to be different from each other, and may control RPM change rates of the first driver310and the second driver320to be different from each other.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure may control the RPM G7of the drum20and the RPM G8of the fan210required in each drying process independently of each other, so that driving of the drum20and the fan210corresponding to each drying process may be specifically performed, and the energy efficiency may be effectively improved.

In one example, as shown inFIGS.13and14, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may control the first driver310such that the RPM G7of the drum20is the same in the first efficiency increasing process P12and the second efficiency increasing process P14, and may control the second driver320such that the RPM G8of the fan210is lower in the second efficiency increasing process P14than in the first efficiency increasing process P12.

In the performance of the efficiency increasing process P10, changing the RPM G7of the drum20to increase the drying efficiency G3may be of little benefit, and may rather cause a stabilization delay resulted from the fluctuation of the RPM G7of the drum20. Thus, one embodiment of the present disclosure maintains the same target RPM of drum20in the first efficiency increasing process P12and the second efficiency increasing process P14. Furthermore, for stabilizing the drying operation, the RPM G7of the drum20in the efficiency increasing process P10may be controlled to the same value as in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

In one example, as described above, the RPM G8of the fan210is related to flow rate and velocity of the air, and the flow rate and velocity of the air are related to an amount of heat lost from the fluid in the fluid circulator100. Thus, in order to efficiently increase the temperature of the fluid of the fluid circulator100, the RPM G8of the fan210is set lower in the first efficiency increasing process P12than in the second efficiency increasing process P14, thereby contributing to a rapid increase in the drying efficiency G3.

As above, one embodiment of the present disclosure adjusts the RPM G8of the fan210to match the process characteristics of the rapid increase of the drying efficiency G3and the fluid temperature of the fluid circulator100in the first efficiency increasing process P12, and adjusts the RPM G7of the drum20independently of the RPM G8of the fan210, thereby efficiently improving the energy efficiency while effectively implementing the characteristics of each drying process.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G7of the drum20is constant in the first efficiency increasing process P12after the laundry amount determination process P11.

That is, one embodiment of the present disclosure may perform the above-described laundry amount determination process P11together with the performance of the first efficiency increasing process P12. For example, when the drying operation of the laundry is performed, the laundry amount determination process P11may be performed first, and the first laundry efficiency increasing process P12may constantly maintain the RPM G7of the drum20after the laundry amount determination process P11is performed by including the laundry amount determination process P11.

InFIGS.13and14, the laundry amount determination process P11performed by controlling, by the controller400, the driver300according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is expressed on the RPM G7of the drum20.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may control the drum20and the RPM G8of the fan210independently of each other in schemes including the scheme in which he driver300includes the first driver310and the second driver320even when the RPM G7of the drum20is changed for the laundry amount determination process P11as described above, thereby performing the laundry amount determination process P11unnecessary fluctuation in the RPM G8of the fan210.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G7of the drum20and the RPM G8of the fan210are constant in the second efficiency increasing process P14and the efficiency maintaining process P20.

Because the second efficiency increasing process P14is a drying process performed after the first efficiency increasing process P12for stabilizing each driving apparatus and the cycle to enter in the efficiency maintaining process P20, the controller400may control the driver300such that the RPMs G7and G8of the drum20and the fan210in the second efficiency increasing process P14are respectively the same as the RPMs G7and G8of the drum20and the fan210in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may control the RPM of the driver300and the frequency G9of the compressor120in the first efficiency decreasing process P32to be equal to or lower than values in the efficiency maintaining process P20, and control the RPM of the driver300and the frequency G9of the compressor120in the second efficiency decreasing process P34to be lower than values in the first efficiency decreasing process P32.

Referring toFIGS.13and14, in the first efficiency decreasing process P32, the RPM of the driver300, that is, the RPMs G7and G8of the drum20and the fan210may be adjusted to be equal to or lower than values in the efficiency maintaining process P20. For example, the RPMs G7and G8of the drum20and the fan210in the first efficiency decreasing process P32may be equal to or lower than the values in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may control the driver300such that the RPMs G7and G8of the drum20and the fan210in the first efficiency decreasing process P32become equal to or lower than the values in the efficiency maintaining process P20so as to prevent additional energy consumption for increasing the drying efficiency G3.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second efficiency decreasing process P34may control the RPM of the driver300and the frequency G9of the compressor120to be lower than values in the first efficiency decreasing process P32. That is, the controller400may stop the driver300and the compressor120in the second efficiency decreasing process P34or control the driver300and the compressor120with lower output compared to the output in the first efficiency decreasing process P32.

Because the second efficiency decreasing process P34is a process of relatively gently stopping the operation of the laundry treating apparatus1for the termination of the drying operation instead of the complete termination of the drying operation, the driver300and the compressor120may still be operated in at least a portion of the second efficiency decreasing process P34.

Referring toFIGS.13and14, it may be seen that, in the second efficiency decreasing process P34, the controller400stops the operation of the driver300, that is, the operation of the fan210and the compressor120, and rotates the drum20at the lower RPM G7than in the first efficiency decreasing process P32.

In the second efficiency decreasing process P34, the cooling process for the fluid and the air may be performed.FIGS.13and14show the cooling process. It may be seen that, in the cooling process, the drum20rotates at the lower RPM G7than in the first efficiency decreasing process.

When the drying operation of the laundry is terminated, the user of the laundry treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may retrieve the laundry from the interior of the drum20. In this case, it may be inconvenient for the user to retrieve the laundry because of the temperature of the laundry increased by the drying operation of the laundry.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure may still rotate the drum20at a predetermined RPM such that the cooling of the laundry may be performed as well as the temperature reduction of the fluid and the air in the second efficiency decreasing process P34. The rotation of the drum20may be advantageous in lowering the temperature of the laundry by allowing the laundry to evenly dissipate the heat.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the amount of laundry is equal to or greater than the preset large amount reference value, the controller400may control the RPM of the driver300and the frequency G9of the compressor120in the first efficiency decreasing process P32in the same manner as in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the amount of laundry identified through the laundry amount determination process P11is equal to or greater than the preset large amount reference value, the controller400may proceed with the drying operation based on the heavy load mode.

The large amount reference value may mean an amount of laundry with the amount of moisture remaining in the laundry equal to or greater than a certain level even after the efficiency maintaining process P20is performed, and the large amount reference value may be variously determined based on repeated experimental results and theoretical results.

A driver300and compressor120control strategy based on the heavy load mode corresponds to the graph ofFIG.14. In the heavy load mode, the controller400may keep the RPM of the driver300and the frequency G9of the compressor120in the first efficiency decreasing process P32the same as those in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

The heavy load mode may be understood as a situation in which the moisture amount of laundry is still large even when the moisture amount of laundry is reduced through the efficiency maintaining process P20and the efficiency decreasing process P30in which the drying efficiency G3is reduced is started. Accordingly, a drying effect of the laundry may be sufficiently maintained such that a result of the drying operation may be sufficiently satisfactory to the user.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the amount of laundry is less than the large amount reference value, the controller400may control the compressor120such that the frequency G9of the compressor120is lower in the first efficiency decreasing process P32than in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

That is, when the amount of laundry is less than the large amount reference value, the controller400controls the compressor120and the driver300based on the normal load mode. Such driver300and compressor120control strategy based on the normal load mode is represented in the graph ofFIG.13.

The normal load mode may be understood as a mode that prioritizes the energy efficiency instead of increasing the drying effect of the laundry when compared with the heavy load mode. The normal load mode may be understood as a mode in which the moisture amount of laundry may be sufficiently removed even when the general first efficiency decreasing process P32is performed after performing the efficiency maintaining process P20.

When comparing the heavy load mode with the normal load mode with reference toFIGS.13and14, the heavy load mode may control the RPM of the driver300and the frequency G9of the compressor120in the same way as in the efficiency maintaining process P20such that the drying effect of the laundry in the first efficiency decreasing process P32, that is, an amount of water evaporation from the laundry may be improved.

Even when the driver300and the compressor120are controlled in the first efficiency decreasing process P32in the same way as in the efficiency maintaining process P20, the drying efficiency G3becomes to be gradually decreased by the decrease in the moisture amount of the laundry.

In one example, the normal load mode may control the output of the driver300and the compressor120in the first efficiency decreasing process P32to be equal to or lower than that in the efficiency maintaining process P20such that the energy efficiency based on energy consumption of the driver300and the compressor120may be improved.

For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the amount of laundry is less than the large amount reference value, the controller400may control the first driver310in the first efficiency decreasing process P32to control the RPM G7of the drum20to be the same as in the efficiency maintaining process P20, and control the second driver320to control the RPM G8of the fan210to be lower than the value in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

Referring toFIG.13, in the normal load mode where the amount of laundry is less than the large amount reference value, the controller400may maintain the RPM G7of the drum20the same as in the efficiency maintaining process P20, and control the first driver310and the second driver320such that the RPM G8of the fan210becomes lower than the value in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

Because the rotation of drum20is involved in the drying effect of the laundry and the decrease in the temperature of the laundry, even in the first efficiency decreasing process, it may be advantageous to maintain the same RPM as in the efficiency maintaining process P20. In one example, the RPM G8of the fan210may be controlled to be lower than the value in the efficiency maintaining process P20to reduce the energy consumption.

As such, one embodiment of the present disclosure may independently and efficiently control the RPM G7of the drum20and the RPM G8of the fan210through the individual control of the first driver310and the second driver320, thereby effectively improving the drying efficiency G3of the drying operation together with the energy efficiency improvement.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller400may control the driver300in the second efficiency decreasing process P34to control the RPM G7of the drum20to a cooling RPM lower than that in the efficiency maintaining process P20for a preset cooling time, and control the RPM G7of the drum20to a value lower than the cooling RPM described above after the cooling time has elapsed. The cooling time may be set in various ways as needed. After the cooling time, the driver300may be controlled such that the RPM G7of the drum20corresponds to 0.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling of the laundry proceeds as the drum20rotates during the cooling time also in the second efficiency decreasing process P34through setting of the cooling time. After the cooling process is performed, as the rotation of the drum20is terminated, the drying operation may be completed.

In one example, the controller400may control the first driver310such that the RPM G7of the drum20corresponds to a cooling RPM during the cooling time in the second efficiency decreasing process P34, and may control the second driver320such that the RPM G8of the fan210is constant in the second efficiency decreasing process P34.

As described above, the cooling of the laundry may be performed while the drum20is rotated at a low RPM lower than the RPM in the first efficiency decreasing process P32during the cooling process, and the rotation of the fan210may be terminated in advance such that each system inside the laundry treating apparatus1may be stably terminated.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first driver310and the second driver320operate independently such that the rotation of the drum20may be terminated with the rotation of the drum20in the second efficiency decreasing process P34as above, so that the energy efficiency in the drying operation of the laundry may be improved.

In one example,FIG.15shows a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG.15, in the method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the laundry treating apparatus1may include the cabinet10, the drum20that is rotatably disposed inside the cabinet10and accommodates the laundry therein, the fluid circulator100that includes the condenser110, the compressor120, and the evaporator130along which the fluid circulates, and includes a compressor sensor150for measuring the temperature of the fluid discharged from the compressor120, the air circulator200that includes the fan210for flowing the air heated through the fluid circulator100into the drum20, the driver300disposed to rotate the drum20and the fan210, and the controller400that controls the compressor120and the driver300to perform the drying operation of the laundry.

In addition, the method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include an efficiency increasing operation (S100), an efficiency maintaining process entry determination operation (S200), an efficiency maintaining operation (S300), an efficiency decreasing process entry determination operation (S400), and an efficiency decreasing operation (S500). In the efficiency increasing operation (S100), the controller400may control the compressor120and the driver300, that is, the first driver310and the second driver320, and may increase the drying efficiency G3inside the drum20.

In the efficiency maintaining process entry determination operation (S200), the controller400may determine whether the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150satisfies preset entry conditions of the efficiency maintaining operation (S300).

In the efficiency maintaining operation (S300), when it is determined in the efficiency maintaining process entry determination operation (S200) that the entry conditions of the efficiency maintaining operation (S300) are satisfied, the controller400may control the fluid circulator100and the driver300and maintain the drying efficiency G3.

The method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference toFIG.15. However, overlapping content with respect to the treating apparatus1according to an embodiment of the present laundry disclosure will be omitted as much as possible.

The control method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include the efficiency increasing operation (S100), the efficiency maintaining process entry determination operation (S200), the efficiency maintaining operation (S300), the efficiency decreasing process entry determination operation (S400), and the efficiency decreasing operation (S500), and the efficiency increasing operation (S100) may include a first efficiency increasing operation (S110), a second efficiency increasing process entry determination operation (S130), and a second efficiency increasing operation (S140). The efficiency decreasing operation (S500) may include a first efficiency decreasing operation (S510), a second efficiency decreasing process entry determination operation (S520), and a second efficiency decreasing operation (S530).

When the user commands to perform the laundry drying operation through the control unit30and the like of the cabinet10, the controller400may perform the efficiency increasing operation (S100). The controller400may perform the first efficiency increasing operation (S110) when performing the efficiency increasing operation (S100), and may perform the laundry amount determination operation (S120) with the start of the first efficiency increasing operation (S110).

In the laundry amount determination operation (S120), the laundry amount determination process P11in which the controller400controls the driver300to determine the amount of laundry inside the drum20while rotating the drum20in the preset pattern may be performed. The amount of laundry determined in the laundry amount determination operation (S120) may be utilized for whether to use the electrode sensor25in the drying operation of the laundry or to distinguish between the normal load mode and the heavy load mode.

After the laundry amount determination operation (S120), the controller400may rapidly increase the fluid temperature of the fluid circulator100in order to rapidly increase the drying efficiency G3based on the first efficiency increasing operation (S110). To this end, the controller400may control the compressor120such that the frequency G9of the compressor120is higher than that in the efficiency maintaining operation (S300), and control the drum20to maintain the RPM G7of drum20the same as in the efficiency maintaining process P20, and control the fan210to adjust the RPM G8of the fan210to the lower RPM than that in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

In the efficiency increasing operation (S100), the controller400may perform the second efficiency increasing process entry determination operation (S130). In the second efficiency increasing process entry determination operation (S130), the controller400may determine whether entry conditions of the second efficiency increasing process P14are satisfied.

The entry conditions of the second efficiency increasing process P14may be the first efficiency increasing process execution time T1, the second efficiency increasing process entry drying efficiency W4, and the second efficiency increasing process entry humidity sensor value W3. When an execution time of the first efficiency increasing operation (S110) in which the first efficiency increasing process P12is performed exceeds the preset first efficiency increasing process execution time T1, the controller400may terminate the first efficiency increasing operation (S110) and perform the second efficiency increasing operation (S140).

In addition, when the current drying efficiency G3corresponds to the preset second efficiency increasing process entry drying efficiency W4, the controller400may terminate the first efficiency increasing operation (S110) and perform the second efficiency increasing operation (S140).

In addition, when the current humidity sensor value250corresponds to the preset second efficiency increasing process entry humidity sensor value W3, the controller400may terminate the first efficiency increasing operation (S110) and perform the second efficiency increasing operation (S140).

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, in the second efficiency increasing operation (S140), the controller400may control the driver300and the compressor120to stabilize the fluid circulator100and the air circulator200, and allow the drying efficiency G3to reach the efficiency maintaining value. In the second efficiency increasing process P14performed in the second efficiency increasing operation (S140), the increase rate of the drying efficiency G3may be lower than that in the first efficiency increasing process P12.

The controller400may control the compressor120to maintain the same frequency G9of the compressor120in the first efficiency increasing operation (S110) and the second efficiency increasing operation (S140). The controller400may control the compressor120such that the frequency G9of the compressor120in the efficiency increasing operation (S100) is higher than the frequency G9of the compressor120in the efficiency maintaining operation (S300).

The controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G8of the fan210in the second efficiency increasing operation (S140) is higher than in the first efficiency increasing operation (S110). The controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G8of the fan210in the second efficiency increasing operation (S140) is the same as in the efficiency maintaining operation (S300).

The controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G7of the drum20in the second efficiency increasing operation (S140) is the same as in the first efficiency increasing operation (S110). The controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G7of the drum20in the second efficiency increasing operation (S140) is the same as in the efficiency maintaining operation (S300). That is, the controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G7of the drum20is constant in the efficiency increasing operation (S100) and the efficiency maintaining operation (S300).

In the efficiency maintaining process entry determination operation (S200), the controller400may determine whether the entry conditions of the efficiency maintaining operation (S300) are satisfied. The entry conditions of the efficiency maintaining operation (S300) may include the efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1, the efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2, the efficiency maintaining process entry humidity sensor value W1, and the efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2.

When at least one of the entry conditions of the efficiency maintaining operation (S300) is satisfied, the controller400may perform the efficiency maintaining operation (S300) while terminating the efficiency increasing operation (S100).

For example, when the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150reaches the efficiency maintaining process entry compressor sensor value V1, when the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160reaches the efficiency maintaining process entry evaporator sensor value V2, when the humidity sensor value reaches the efficiency maintaining process entry humidity sensor value W1, or when the drying efficiency G3reaches the efficiency maintaining process entry drying efficiency W2, the controller400may terminate the efficiency increasing operation (S100) and perform the efficiency maintaining operation (S300).

In one example, in the efficiency maintaining operation (S300), the controller400may perform the efficiency maintaining process P20. In the efficiency maintaining process P20, the controller400may control the compressor120and the driver300such that the drying efficiency G3may maintain the efficiency maintaining value.

The controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G7of the drum20is constant in the efficiency increasing process P10and in the efficiency maintaining process P20, control the driver300such that the RPM G8of the fan210is constant in the second efficiency increasing process P14and in the efficiency maintaining process P20, and control the compressor120such that the frequency G9of the compressor120is lower in the efficiency maintaining process P20than in the efficiency increasing process P10.

In the efficiency decreasing process entry determination operation (S400), the controller400may determine whether entry conditions of the efficiency decreasing operation (S500) are satisfied. The entry conditions of the efficiency decreasing operation (S500) may include the efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3, the efficiency decreasing process entry compressor sensor value V4, the efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V5, the efficiency decreasing process entry humidity change rate W5, and the efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W6.

When at least one of the entry conditions of the efficiency decreasing operation (S500) is satisfied, the controller400may perform the efficiency decreasing operation (S500) while terminating the efficiency maintaining operation (S300).

For example, when the change rate of the measured value G5of the evaporator sensor160reaches the efficiency decreasing process entry change rate V3, when the measured value G4of the compressor sensor150reaches the efficiency decreasing process entry compressor sensor value V4, when the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25reaches the efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V5, when the change rate of the measured value of the humidity sensor reaches the efficiency decreasing process entry humidity change rate W5, or when the drying efficiency G3reaches the efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W6, the controller400may terminate the efficiency maintaining operation (S300) and perform the efficiency decreasing operation (S500).

In one example, in the efficiency decreasing operation (S500), the controller400may perform the efficiency decreasing process P30. In the efficiency decreasing process P30, the controller400may control the compressor120and the driver300to reduce the drying efficiency G3.

In the efficiency decreasing operation (S500), the controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G7of drum20becomes equal to or lower than that in the efficiency maintaining operation (S300), control the driver300such that the RPM G8of the fan210becomes equal to or lower than that in the efficiency maintaining operation (S300), and control the compressor120such that the frequency G9of the compressor120becomes lower than that in the efficiency maintaining process P20.

In the efficiency decreasing operation (S500), the controller400may perform the first efficiency decreasing operation (S510). In the first efficiency decreasing operation (S510), the controller400may perform the first efficiency decreasing process P32. In the first efficiency decreasing process P32, the controller400may control the compressor120and the driver300such that the drying efficiency G3is gently reduced compared to that in the second efficiency decreasing process P34.

In the normal load mode where the amount of laundry of the drum20is less than the large amount reference value, the controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G7of the drum20in the first efficiency decreasing process P32is the same as that in the efficiency maintaining process P20and higher than that in the second efficiency decreasing process P34, may control the driver300such that the RPM G8of the fan210is lower than that in the efficiency maintaining process P20and higher than that in the second efficiency decreasing process P34, and may control the compressor120such that the frequency G9of the compressor120is lower than that in the efficiency maintaining process P20and higher than that in the second efficiency decreasing process P34.

In the heavy load mode where the laundry amount of drum20is greater than the large amount reference value, the controller400may control the driver300such that the RPM G7of the drum20in the first efficiency decreasing process P32is the same as that in the efficiency maintaining process P20and higher than that in the second efficiency decreasing process P34, may control the driver300such that the RPM G8of the fan210is the same as that in the efficiency maintaining process P20and higher than that in the second efficiency decreasing process P34, and may control the compressor120such that the frequency G9of the compressor120is the same as that in the efficiency maintaining process P20and higher than that in the second efficiency decreasing process P34.

In one example, in the second efficiency decreasing process entry determination operation (S520), the controller400may determine whether entry conditions of the second efficiency decreasing operation (S530) are satisfied. The entry conditions of the second efficiency decreasing operation (S530) may include the second efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V6, the observation time T4, the second efficiency decreasing process entry humidity sensor value W7, and the second efficiency may include decreasing process entry drying efficiency W8.

When at least one of the entry conditions of the second efficiency decreasing operation (S530) is satisfied, the controller400may perform the second efficiency decreasing operation (S530) while terminating the first efficiency decreasing operation (S510).

For example, when the measured value G10of the electrode sensor25corresponds to the second efficiency decreasing process entry electrode sensor value V6and the observation time T4has elapsed, when the measured value of the humidity sensor reaches the second efficiency decreasing process entry humidity sensor value W7, or when the drying efficiency G3reaches the second efficiency decreasing process entry drying efficiency W8, the controller400may terminate the first efficiency decreasing operation (S510) and perform the second efficiency decreasing operation (S530).

In the second efficiency decreasing operation (S530), the second efficiency decreasing process P34may be performed. In the second efficiency decreasing process P34, the controller400may control the compressor120and the driver300such that the drying efficiency G3may be rapidly decreased compared to the first efficiency decreasing process P32, each driving apparatus of the laundry treating apparatus1may be stably terminated, and the laundry cooling process may be performed.

In the second efficiency decreasing process P34, the controller400may control the driver300such that the drum20is operated with the RPM G7lower than that in the first efficiency decreasing process P32during the cooling process, and the rotation of the drum20is terminated after the cooling process, may control the driver300such that the rotation of the fan210is terminated, and may control the compressor120such that the operation of the compressor120is terminated.

Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described in relation to a specific embodiment, it is understood that the present disclosure may be variously improved and changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure provided by the following claims. It will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the industry.