US20240167211A1

US20240167211A1 - Clothes treating system and method of diagnosing the same

Info

Publication number: US20240167211A1
Application number: US18/537,227
Authority: US
Inventors: Seunghun LEE; Junhyeon PARK; Sungdai CHO
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-11-22
Filing date: 2023-12-12
Publication date: 2024-05-23

Abstract

A clothes treating system includes a first clothes treating apparatus including a first drum, a first controller configured to control an operation of the first drum, and a diagnostic port; and a second clothes treating apparatus including a second drum, and a second controller configured to control an operation of the second drum. The first controller includes a first transmitting end and a first receiving end, and is configured to receive a first diagnosis request signal from the diagnostic port through the first receiving end, identify a diagnosis target based on the first diagnosis request signal, transmit a first diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic port through the first transmitting end after performing a diagnostic operation corresponding to the first diagnosis request signal in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the first clothes treating apparatus, and in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the second clothes treating apparatus, transmit a second diagnosis request signal to the second controller through the first transmitting end.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application, filed under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a), of International Application PCT/KR2023/017376 filed Nov. 2, 2023, and is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2022-0157699, filed on Nov. 22, 2022, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0014485, filed on Feb. 2, 2023 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to a clothes treating system including a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses and a method of diagnosing the clothes treating system.

2. Description of the Related Art

A clothes treating apparatus is an apparatus for treating and/or caring clothes. Clothes treating apparatuses include a washing machine and a dryer.
A washing machine is an apparatus for washing laundry in a tub through mutual friction by stirring the laundry, water, and a detergent together with a driving force of a drum motor. Operations performed by a washing machine include, regardless of the kind of the washing machine, a washing operation of supplying a detergent and water into a tub accommodating laundry and washing the laundry while rotating a drum, a rinsing operation of rinsing the laundry by supplying water to the tub and rotating the drum, and a dehydrating operation of discharging water from the tub and rotating the drum to remove water from the laundry.
The dryer is an apparatus for drying objects with hot and dry air. The dryer is configured to dry objects by passing hot air through the drum while rotating the drum in which the objects are accommodated at low speed. An operation performed by the dryer includes a drying operation of drying objects.
For the convenience of use, a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses may be connected to each other and used.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a clothes treating system may include a first clothes treating apparatus including a first drum, a first controller configured to control an operation of the first drum, and a diagnostic port connectable to a diagnostic terminal; and a second clothes treating apparatus including a second drum, and a second controller configured to control an operation of the second drum. The first controller may include a first transmitting end and a first receiving end, and may be configured to receive a first diagnosis request signal from the diagnostic port through the first receiving end, identify a diagnosis target based on the first diagnosis request signal, in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the first clothes treating apparatus, perform a first diagnostic operation of the first clothes treating apparatus, and transmit a first diagnosis result signal including information about a result of the first diagnostic operation to the diagnostic port through the first transmitting end, and in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the second clothes treating apparatus, transmit a second diagnosis request signal to the second controller through the first transmitting end.
The diagnostic port may include a receiving end and a transmitting end.
The second controller may include a second transmitting end and a second receiving end.
The first transmitting end may be connected to the receiving end of the diagnostic port and the second receiving end.
The first receiving end may be connected to the transmitting end of the diagnostic port and the second transmitting end.
A signal output through the first transmitting end may be transmitted to the diagnostic port and the second receiving end.
The clothes treating system may further comprise a connection circuit board configured to connect the first controller and the second controller by wire.
The first transmitting end may be connected to the second receiving end through the connection circuit board, and the first receiving end may be connected to the second transmitting end through the connection circuit board.
The connection circuit board may be configured to convert a signal received from the first transmitting end to be decodable by the second controller, and convert a signal received from the second transmitting end to be decodable by the first controller.
Each of the first diagnosis result signal and the second diagnosis request signal may include identification information about a transmitter and identification information about a receiver.
The second controller may be configured to, in response to receiving the second diagnosis request signal from the first controller, perform a second diagnostic operation of the second clothes treating apparatus, and transmit a second diagnosis result signal including information about a result of the second diagnostic operation to the first receiving end.
In response to receiving the second diagnosis result signal from the second controller through the first receiving end, the first controller may be configured to transmit the second diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic port.
The first controller may be configured to perform communication with the second controller or the diagnostic terminal according to a preset communication sequence, in response to the diagnostic terminal being connected to the diagnostic port.
The preset communication sequence may include a first sequence in which the first transmitting end transmits a signal to the diagnostic terminal, a second sequence in which the first receiving end receives a signal from the diagnostic terminal, a third sequence in which the first transmitting end transmits a signal to the second controller; and a fourth sequence in which the first receiving end receives a signal from the second controller.
The second controller may be configured to ignore a signal output through the first transmitting end, in response to receiver identification information included in the signal output through the first transmitting end corresponding to the diagnostic terminal connected to the diagnostic port.
The connection circuit board may be configured to ignore a signal output through the first transmitting end, in response to receiver identification information included in the signal output through the first transmitting end corresponding to the diagnostic terminal connected to the diagnostic port.
The first controller may be configured to identify the diagnosis target as the first clothes treating apparatus, in response to receiver identification information included in the first diagnosis request signal corresponding to the first clothes treating apparatus, and identify the diagnosis target as the second clothes treating apparatus, in response to the receiver identification information included in the first diagnosis request signal corresponding to the second clothes treating apparatus.
The first clothes treating apparatus may include a housing to accommodate the first drum, and a door formed on the housing to open or close an opening corresponding to the first drum, and the diagnostic port may be below the door.
The first clothes treating apparatus may be a washing machine and the second clothes treating apparatus may be a dryer.
In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a method of diagnosing a clothes treating system including a first clothes treating apparatus including a first drum, a first controller configured to control an operation of the first drum, and a diagnostic port connectable to a diagnostic terminal, and a second clothes treating apparatus including a second drum and a second controller configured to control an operation of the second drum, may include: receiving, by the first controller, a first diagnosis request signal from the diagnostic port through a first receiving end; identifying, by the first controller, a diagnosis target based on the first diagnosis request signal; in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the first clothes treating apparatus, performing a first diagnostic operation, and transmitting, by the first controller, a first diagnosis result signal including information about a result of the first diagnostic operation to the diagnostic port through a first transmitting; and in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the second clothes treating apparatus, transmitting, by the first controller, a second diagnosis request signal to the second controller through the first transmitting end.
The method may further comprises in response to receiving the second diagnosis request signal from the first controller, performing a second diagnostic operation, and transmitting, by the second controller, a second diagnosis result signal including information about a result of the second diagnostic operation to the first receiving end to the first receiving end, and in response to receiving the second diagnosis result signal from the second controller through the first receiving end, transmitting, by the first controller, the second diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic port.
In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a clothes treating system may include a first clothes treating apparatus including a first housing, a first drum accommodated in the first housing, and a first door configured to open and close the first drum; a second clothes treating apparatus including a second housing, a second drum accommodated in the second housing, and a second door configured to open and close the second drum; a first diagnostic port provided on a front side of any one of the first housing or the second housing; and a second diagnostic port provided on a front side of any one of the first housing or the second housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a first clothes treating apparatus of a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of a first clothes treating apparatus of a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a second clothes treating apparatus of a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of a second clothes treating apparatus of a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of a first clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of a second clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating that a diagnostic terminal is connected to a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating that a diagnostic terminal is connected to a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a control block diagram illustrating that a diagnostic terminal is connected to a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating operations of selecting a diagnosis target through a diagnostic terminal according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a communication diagnostic port of a diagnostic terminal and a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of diagnosing a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 illustrate a flow of a diagnosis request signal and a diagnosis result signal, in a conceptual diagram illustrating a communication diagnostic port of a diagnostic terminal and a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of data structures of a diagnosis request signal and a diagnosis result signal according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a preset communication sequence; and

FIG. 19 , FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 are conceptual diagrams illustrating that a diagnostic terminal is connected to a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Configurations illustrated in the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification are only the preferred embodiments of the disclosure, and thus it is to be understood that various modified examples, which may replace the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification, are possible when filing the present application.
Also, the terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe the embodiments, and are not intended to limit and/or restrict the disclosure.
For example, it is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, each of such phrases as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include any one of, or all possible combinations of the items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases.
The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of associated listed items.
As used herein, such terms as “first” and “second” may be used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and does not limit the components in other aspect (for example, importance or order).
It is to be understood that if a certain component (for example, a first component) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or “communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or “connected to” another component (for example, a second component), it means that the component may be coupled with the other component directly (for example, wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third component.
It is to be understood that the terms such as “including” or “having,” etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.
It is to be understood that if a certain component is referred to as being “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “supported on” or “in contact with” another component, it means that the component may be coupled with the other component directly or indirectly via a third component.
It will also be understood that when a certain component is referred to as being “on” or “over” another component, it can be directly on the other component or intervening components may also be present.
In addition, the terms “portion”, “device”, “block”, “member”, and “module” used herein refer to a unit for processing at least one function or operation. For example, the terms may mean at least one process that may be processed by at least one hardware such as field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or at least one software or processor stored in a memory.
A washing machine according to various embodiments of the disclosure may perform a washing operation, a rinsing operation, a dehydrating operation, and a drying operation. The washing machine is an example of a clothes treating apparatus, and may be a concept including an apparatus for washing clothes (an object to be washed or an object to be dried), an apparatus for drying clothes, and an apparatus capable of performing both washing and drying.
The washing machine according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include a top-loading washing machine, wherein an inlet through which laundry is put into or taken out of the top-loading washing machine opens upward, or a front-loading washing machine, wherein a laundry inlet opens in a front direction. The washing machine according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include another loading type of washing machine other than the top-loading washing machine and the front-loading washing machine.
The top-loading washing machine may wash laundry with water streams generated by a rotating body such as a pulsator. The front-loading washing machine may wash laundry by rotating a drum to repeatedly raise and drop the laundry. The front-loading washing machine may include a washing machine with a drying function, which is capable of drying laundry accommodated in a drum. The washing machine with the drying function may include a hot air supply for supplying hot air into the drum and a condenser for removing moisture of air discharged from the drum. For example, the washing machine with the drying function may include a heat pump. The washing machine according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include a washing machine using another washing method other than the above-described washing methods.
Therefore, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a clothes treating system capable of diagnosing a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses using a single diagnostic port, and a method of diagnosing the clothes treating system.
It is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a clothes treating system including a clothes treating apparatus capable of communicating with another clothes treating apparatus and a diagnostic terminal while minimizing a number of communication diagnostic ports, and a method of diagnosing the clothes treating system.
It is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a clothes treating system capable of diagnosing a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses without dissembling and assembling the clothes treating system, and a method of diagnosing the clothes treating system.
Technical objects that can be achieved by the disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned those, and other technical objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the technical art to which the disclosure belongs from the following description.
Hereinafter, a clothes treating system according to various embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a first clothes treating apparatus of a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of a first clothes treating apparatus of a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates a second clothes treating apparatus of a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of a second clothes treating apparatus of a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
As shown in FIG. 1 , a clothes treating system 1 may include a first clothes treating apparatus 10, and a second clothes treating apparatus 60 mounted on the first clothes treating apparatus 10. For example, the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may be mounted on the first clothes treating apparatus 10.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may be a washing machine or a dryer. For example, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may be a washing machine.
Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the first clothes treating apparatus 10 according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include a first housing 11 accommodating various components therein. The first housing 11 may be in a shape of a box, wherein a laundry inlet 12 is formed at one side of the first housing 11.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include a first door 13 for opening or closing the laundry inlet 12. The first door 13 may be rotatably mounted on the first housing 11 by a first hinge 14. At least one portion of the first door 13 may be transparent or translucent to show an interior of the first housing 11.
An opening corresponding to the first door 13 as well as a housing opening 150 a and a housing door 150 b for opening and closing the housing opening 150 a may be formed on a front side of the first housing 11.
The housing opening 150 a may be formed on the front side of the first housing 11 to enable an access to a filter device (not shown) for filtering a wash water of the first clothes treating apparatus 10. Accordingly, the housing door 150 b may be referred to as a filter cover.
According to an embodiment, the housing opening 150 a and the housing door 150 b may be provided below the first door 13.
According to various embodiments, a diagnostic port connectable to a diagnostic terminal may be provided inside the housing door 150 b.
A user may diagnose a failure of the clothes treating system by opening the housing door 150 b and connecting the diagnostic terminal to the diagnostic port.
The diagnostic port may be implemented in a form of a connector to which a connector of a diagnostic terminal may be connected. According to various embodiments, the diagnostic port may be a female connector and/or a male connector.
The diagnostic terminal connected to the diagnostic port may communicate with a first controller 23 through a first communicator 19.
The first communicator 19 may include a communication line, and the communication line may be connected to the first controller 23.
According to various embodiments, the communication line of the first communicator 19 may be connected to a connection circuit board 130 (refer to FIG. 13 ) of a user interface device 100 (refer to FIG. 13 ).
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include a tub 20 provided inside the first housing 11 to store water. The tub 20 may be substantially in a shape of a cylinder, wherein a tub opening 22 is formed at one side of the tub 20, and the tub 20 may be positioned inside the first housing 11 so that the tub opening 22 is positioned to correspond to the laundry inlet 12.
The tub 20 may be connected to the first housing 11 by a damper 29. The damper 29 may absorb vibrations generated according to rotations of a first drum 30 to attenuate vibrations that are transferred to the first housing 11.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include the first drum 30 accommodating laundry.
The first drum 30 may be positioned inside the tub 20 so that a first drum opening 32 provided at one side of the first drum 30 corresponds to the laundry inlet 12 and the tub opening 22. Laundry may pass through the laundry inlet 12, the tub opening 22, and the first drum opening 32 sequentially to be accommodated in the first drum 30 or taken out of the first drum 30.
The first drum 30 may perform operations according to a washing operation, a rinsing operation, and/or a dehydrating operation, while rotating inside the tub 20. A plurality of through holes 34 may be formed in a cylindrical wall of the first drum 30 so that water stored in the tub 20 flows into the first drum 30 or is discharged from the first drum 30. At least one first lifter 35 may be installed on an inner circumferential surface of the first drum 30 to raise and drop laundry while the first drum 30 rotates.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include a first driver 40 configured to rotate the first drum 30. The first driver 40 may include a first drum motor 41, and a first rotating shaft 42 for transferring a driving force generated in the first drum motor 41 to the first drum 30. The first rotating shaft 42 may be connected to the first drum 30 by penetrating the tub 20.
The first driver 40 may perform operations according to a washing operation, a rinsing operation and/or a dehydrating operation, or a drying operation by rotating the first drum 30 forward or backward.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include a water supply 50 for supplying water to the tub 20. The water supply 50 may include a water supply tube 51, and a water supply valve 52 provided in the water supply tube 51. The water supply tube 51 may be connected to an external water supply source. The water supply tube 51 may extend to a detergent supply device 53 and/or the tub 20 from the external water supply source. Water may be supplied to the tub 20 via the detergent supply device 53. Water may be supplied to the tub 20 not via the detergent supply device 53.
The water supply valve 52 may open or close the water supply tube 51 in response to an electrical signal from the controller 23. The water supply valve 52 may allow or block supply of water from the external water supply source to the tub 20. The water supply valve 52 may include, for example, a solenoid valve opened or closed in response to an electrical signal.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include the detergent supply device 53 configured to supply a detergent to the tub 20. The detergent supply device 53 may include a manual detergent supply device into which a user requires to put a detergent to be used whenever performing washing, and an automatic detergent supply device which stores a large amount of detergent and automatically puts a preset amount of detergent during washing. The detergent supply device 53 may include a detergent case for storing a detergent. The detergent supply device 53 may supply a detergent into the tub 20 while water is supplied. Water supplied through the water supply tube 51 may be mixed with a detergent via the detergent supply device 53. The water mixed with the detergent may be supplied into the tub 20. The detergent may include a detergent for pre-washing, a detergent for main washing, a fabric softener, bleach, etc., and the detergent case may be partitioned into a pre-washing detergent storage area, a main washing detergent storage area, a fabric softener storage area, and a bleach storage area.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include a drain device 54 configured to discharge water accommodated in the tub 20 to the outside. The drain device 54 may include a drain tube 55 extending from a lower portion of the tub 20 to the outside of the first housing 11, a drain valve 56 provided at the drain tube 55 and configured to open or close the drain tube 55, and a drain pump 57 provided on the drain tube 55. The drain pump 57 may pump water of the drain tube 55 to the outside of the first housing 11.
According to various embodiments, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may further include a heater (not shown) for heating water stored in the tub 20.
According to various embodiments, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may further include a heater (not shown) for heating water supplied through the water supply 50.
The second clothes treating apparatus 60 may be a washing machine or a dryer. For example, the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may be a dryer.
Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the second clothes treating apparatus 60 according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include a second housing 61 accommodating various components therein. The second housing 61 may be in a shape of a box, wherein an object inlet 62 is formed at one side of the second housing 61.
The second clothes treating apparatus 60 may include a second door 63 for opening or closing the object inlet 62. The second door 63 may be rotatably mounted on the second housing 61 by a second hinge 64. At least a portion of the second door 63 may be transparent or translucent to show an interior of the second housing 61.
The second clothes treating apparatus 60 may include a second drum 70 provided to accommodate an object. The second drum 70 may be positioned inside the second housing 61 so that a second drum opening 72 provided at one side of the second drum 70 corresponds to the object inlet 62. An object may pass through the object inlet 62 and the second drum opening 72 sequentially to be accommodated inside the second drum 70 or taken out of the second drum 70. The second drum 70 may be rotatably provided inside the second housing 61.
The second clothes treating apparatus 60 may include a second driver 73 configured to rotate the second drum 70. The second driver 73 may include a second drum motor 73 a, and a second rotating shaft (not shown) for transferring a driving force generated in the second drum motor 73 a to the second drum 70.
The second drum 70 may include an inlet 71 through which air flows into the second drum 70. Inside air of the second drum 70 may be discharged from the second drum 70 through the second drum opening 72. The inlet 71 may be positioned at a side opposite to a side of the second drum 70 on which the second drum opening 72 is positioned. For example, the inlet 71 may be positioned in a rear portion of the second drum 70, and the second drum opening 72 may be positioned in a front portion of the second drum 70.
Hot and dry air may flow into the second drum 70 through the inlet 71 to dry an object accommodated in the second drum 70. Air containing a large amount of moisture after drying the object may be discharged from the second drum 70 through the second drum opening 72.
At least one second lifter 74 may be provided inside the second drum 70. The second lifter 74 may raise and drop an object to cause the object to be in contact with hot air while floating in an inside space of the second drum 70.
A heat pump 80 for heating and condensing air may be formed inside the second housing 61. A refrigerant of the heat pump 80 may circulate through a series of processes of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation. Specifically, the heat pump 80 may include an evaporator 81, a condenser 82, a compressor 83, and an expander.
The compressor 83 may compress a refrigerant to a high-temperature and high-pressure state and then discharge the refrigerant, and the discharged refrigerant may enter the condenser 82. The condenser 82 may condense the compressed refrigerant and emit heat to surroundings through the condensation. Also, the expander may expand the refrigerant, which is in a high-temperature and high-pressure state and condensed in the condenser 82, to a low-pressure state. The evaporator 81 may evaporate the expanded refrigerant and take away heat from surroundings through the evaporation.
As operation revolutions per minute (RPM) of the compressor 83 increases, an amount of heat emitted to the surroundings through the condensation process of the condenser 82 may increase.
While an object is put into the second clothes treating apparatus 60 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 operates in a drying mode, hot and humid air discharged from the second drum 70 may pass through the evaporator 81. Accordingly, the hot and humid air discharged from the second drum 70 may be cooled by passing through the evaporator 81 and change to cold and dry air. In this instance, while the hot and humid air is cooled in the evaporator 81, condensation water may be generated. The condensation water may move to a collection bucket or be drained to the outside of the second housing 61. Also, the cold and dry air that has passed through the evaporator 81 may pass through the condenser 82. Accordingly, the cold and dry air discharged from the evaporator 81 may be heated by passing through the condenser 82 and change to hot and dry air. The hot and dry air may enter the second drum 70 through the inlet 71 to dry the object. Hot and humid air containing a large amount of moisture by drying the object may be discharged through the second drum opening 72. The discharged air may again pass through the evaporator 81. In summary, air may dry an object accommodated in the second drum 70 while circulating inside of the second housing 61.
In the drying mode, a closed flow path may be formed inside the second housing 61 of the second clothes treating apparatus 60. Here, the closed flow path may be a movement path (see an arrow of FIG. 5 ) of air along which inside air of the second housing 61 circulates the heat pump 80 and the second drum 70. The closed flow path may not communicate with the outside of the second housing 61 to prevent outside air of the second housing 61 from entering the second housing 61 or being discharged to the outside. That is, a flow of air may form a closed loop.
The second clothes treating apparatus 60 may include a heater 86 provided on the closed flow path. The heater 86 may be implemented through a heating coil, without being limited thereto. However, the heater 86 may be implemented through various known devices. The heater 86 may further heat air heated by passing through the condenser 82 or may heat air drawn in from the outside without being heated through the heat pump 80.
Referring to FIG. 4 , the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may include a housing opening 69 provided on a front side of the second housing 61 to allow an access to the heat pump 80. A filter device 96 may be mounted inside the second housing 61 through the housing opening 69. Specifically, the filter device 96 may be detachably installed in a device accommodating portion 68 formed inside the second housing 61 through the housing opening 69. According to installation of the filter device 96 in the device accommodating portion 68, the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may perform a drying mode (drying operation) for drying an object such as clothes. Meanwhile, a housing cover 67 may be provided on a front surface of the second housing 61 to open or close the housing opening 69.
With the housing opening 69 closed with the housing cover 67, a front surface of the housing cover 67 may be connected to the front surface of the second housing 61 to form a seamlessly connected surface without any step. In a state where the filter device 96 is not installed inside the second housing 61, a user may access the heat pump 80 through the housing opening 69. Foreign materials such as lint, and the like, may adhere to the heat pump 80 due to long-time use of the dryer, and a user may remove such foreign materials through the housing opening 69.
The filter device 96 may be detachably installed in the second clothes treating apparatus 60. Specifically, the filter device 96 may be detachably installed inside the second housing 61 through the housing opening 69. The filter device 96 may be installed in the device accommodating portion 68 or separated from the device accommodating portion 68.
A fan 90 may be positioned below the second drum 70. The fan 90 may circulate inside air of the second housing 61. The fan 90 may form a circulating airflow passing through the second drum 70 inside the second housing 61.
The second clothes treating apparatus 60 may include a fan motor 91 configured to rotate the fan 90.
A driving force generated in the fan motor 91 may rotate the fan 90.
According to various embodiments, the fan motor 91 for rotating the fan 90 and the second drum motor 73 a for rotating the second drum 70 may be the same component.
According to an embodiment, a single motor 91 and 73 a may be connected to different rotating shafts to simultaneously rotate the fan 90 and the second drum 70.
When the single motor 91 and 73 a is connected to the different rotating shafts and simultaneously rotates the fan 90 and the second drum 70, a rotation speed of the fan 90 may be different from that of the second drum 70. For example, the rotation speed of the fan 90 may be greater than that of the second drum 70.
According to various embodiments, the fan motor 91 for rotating the fan 90 and the second drum motor 73 a for rotating the second drum 70 may be separate components.
FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of a first clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 6 , according to an embodiment, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include a first user interface device 15, the first driver 40, the water supply 50, the drain device 54, a first sensor 18, a first communicator 19, and the first controller 23.
The first user interface device 15 may provide a user interface for enabling a user to interact with the first clothes treating apparatus 10.
The first user interface device 15 may include at least one input interface 16 and at least one output interface 17.
According to an embodiment, the first user interface device 15 may be positioned at one side of the first housing 11, without being limited thereto.
The at least one input interface 16 may convert sensory information received from a user into an electrical signal.
The at least one input interface 16 may include a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or a course selection button), and a washing/rinsing/dehydrating settings button. The at least one input interface 16 may include, for example, a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone, and the like.
The at least one output interface 17 may generate sensory information and deliver various data related to an operation of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 to the user.
For example, the at least one output interface 17 may deliver information related to washing courses, operation time of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and washing settings/rinsing settings/dehydrating settings to the user. Information related to operations of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may be output through a screen, an indicator, a voice, and the like. The at least one output interface 17 may include, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) panel, a speaker, and the like.
The washing courses may include washing settings (e.g., washing temperature, a number of times of rinsing, strength of dehydrating, etc.) set in advance by a designer of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 according to kinds (e.g., bedclothes, underwear, etc.) and materials (e.g., wool, etc.) of laundry. For example, standard washing may include washing settings capable of being applied to most of laundry, and bedclothes washing may include washing settings optimized to wash bedclothes. The washing courses may be divided into, for example, standard washing, intense washing, delicate clothes washing, bedclothes washing, baby clothes washing, towel washing, small washing, boiling washing, power saving washing, outdoor clothes washing, rinsing/dehydrating, dehydrating, and the like.
The memory 25 may store a plurality of washing course algorithms corresponding to a plurality of washing courses. The plurality of washing course algorithms refer to algorithms for controlling a plurality of electronic components (e.g., the first driver 40, the water supply 50, the drain device 54, and/or the heater (not shown)) in a washing cycle.
The processor 24 may perform a washing course based on an algorithm of an operation course selected based on a user input from among the plurality of washing course algorithms stored in the memory 25.
The first driver 40 may include the first drum motor 41 that provides a driving force for rotating the first drum 30. The first driver 40 may operate based on a control signal from the first controller 23.
The water supply 50 may include the water supply valve 52 for opening or closing the water supply tube 51 extending from an external water supply source to the detergent supply device 53 and/or the tub 20. The water supply valve 52 may be opened or closed based on a control signal from the first controller 23.
The drain device 54 may include the drain pump 57 for discharging water of the tub 20 to the outside of the first housing 11. The drain pump 57 may operate based on a control signal from the first controller 23.
The first sensor 18 may include at least one sensor for obtaining information related to an operation state of the first clothes treating apparatus 10.
For example, the first sensor 18 may include at least one of a water level sensor for detecting a water level of the tub 20, a sensor for detecting an operation state of the first driver 40, a flow sensor for detecting a rate of flow of water introduced into the tub 20 through the water supply 50, or a sensor for detecting an operation state of the drain device 54.
According to various embodiments, the first sensor 18 may include at least one sensor detecting a weight of laundry accommodated in the first drum 30.
According to various embodiments, the first sensor 18 may include a vibration sensor for detecting a vibration value of the tub 20. The vibration sensor may detect vibrations of the tub 20. Specifically, the vibration sensor may detect vibrations of the tub 20, which are generated by rotation of the first drum 30 while a washing cycle is in progress (e.g., a dehydrating operation).
The sensor for detecting the operation state of the first driver 40 may include, for example, a current sensor for measuring a driving current applied to the first drum motor 41, without being limited thereto.
The sensor for detecting the operation state of the drain device 54 may include, for example, a current sensor for measuring a driving current applied to the drain pump 57, without being limited thereto.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include the first communicator 19 for communicating with an external device (e.g., diagnostic terminal, the second clothes treating apparatus 60, a server, a user device, and/or another home appliance) in a wired and/or wireless manner.
The diagnostic terminal is a device for diagnosing failures (or errors) of the clothes treating system, and may obtain information about a state of a plurality of electronic components provided in the clothes treating system through the clothes treating system and a wired communication network (e.g., Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) communication network), and notify the obtained information to the user.
The diagnostic terminal may include a communication line and a connector for establishing wired communication with the clothes treating system.
According to various embodiments, the diagnostic terminal may be a product for administrators, but may also include a smart phone, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a tablet PC, and the like.
The user device and/or the other home appliance may include various electronic devices, such as a smart phone, a notebook computer, a laptop, a smart watch, an internet of things (IOT) hub device, another home appliance (e.g., a television and/or the second clothes treating apparatus 60), a stationary type tablet, and a speaker.
The first communicator 19 may include a short-range communication module and/or a long-distance communication module.
The first communicator 19 may transmit data to an external device or receive data from the external device. For example, the first communicator 19 may establish communication with a server, a user device, and/or another home appliance, and transmit/receive various data to/from the server, the user device, and/or the other home appliance.
To this end, the first communicator 19 may support establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel with an external device, and communications through an established communication channel. According to an embodiment, the first communicator 19 may include a wireless communication module (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication module). A corresponding communication module among the communication modules may communicate with an external device through a first network (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network, such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) Direct, or Infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (e.g., a long-distance wireless communication network, such as a legacy cellular network, a 5th Generation (5G) network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or a wide area network (WAN)). The various kinds of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented with a plurality of separate components (e.g., a plurality of chips).
The wired communication module may include a communication line and/or a connector for establishing wired communication with another device (e.g. the diagnostic terminal, the second clothes treating apparatus 60).
The short-range wireless communication module may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication module, a Near Field Communication (NFC) module, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN; WiFi) communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an IrDA communication module, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication module, a Ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, etc., without being limited thereto.
The long-distance wireless communication module may include a communication module that performs various kinds of long-distance communications, and may include a mobile communicator. The mobile communicator may transmit/receive a wireless signal to/from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, or a server on a mobile communication network.
According to an embodiment, the first communicator 19 may communicate with an external device, such as a server, a user device, another home appliance, etc., through a nearby Access Point (AP). The AP may connect a LAN to which the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and/or a user device and/or another home appliance is connected to a WAN to which a server is connected. The first clothes treating apparatus 10 and/or the user device and/or the other home appliance may be connected to the server through the WAN.
The first controller 23 may control various components (e.g., the first driver 40, the water supply 50, and the drain device 54) of the first clothes treating apparatus 10. The first controller 23 may control various components of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 to perform at least one operation including water supply, washing, rinsing, and/or dehydrating according to a user input. For example, the first controller 23 may control the first driving motor 41 of the first driver 40 to control an RPM of the first drum 30, control the water supply valve 52 of the water supply 50 to supply water to the tub 20, or control the drain pump 57 of the drain device 54 to discharge water of the tub 20 to the outside.
The first controller 23 may include hardware, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a micro-computer (Micom, e.g., microcontroller unit (MCU) or micro processing unit (MPU)), or a memory, and software such as a control program, and the like. For example, the first controller 23 may include at least one memory 25 that stores data in a form of an algorithm or program for controlling operations of components in the first clothes treating apparatus 10, and at least one processor 24 that performs the above-described operations and operations to be described below by using data stored in the at least one memory 25. The memory 25 and the processor 24 may be implemented as separate chips. The processor 24 may include one, two, or more processor chips or one, two, or more processing cores. The memory 25 may include one, two, or more memory chips or one, two, or more memory blocks. Also, the memory 25 and the processor 24 may be implemented as a single chip.
FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of a second clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 7 , according to an embodiment, the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may include a second user interface device 75, the second driver 73, a heater 86, the fan motor 91, the heat pump 80, a second sensor 79, a second communicator 94, and the second controller 97.
The second user interface device 75 may provide a user interface for enabling a user to interact with the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
The second user interface device 75 may include at least one input interface 76 and at least one output interface 77.
According to an embodiment, the second user interface device 75 may be positioned at one side of the second housing 61, without being limited thereto.
The at least one input interface 76 may convert sensory information received from a user into an electrical signal.
The at least one input interface 76 may include a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or a course selection button), and a drying setting button. The at least one input interface 76 may include, for example, a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone, and the like.
The at least one output interface 77 may generate sensory information and deliver various data related to an operation of the second clothes treating apparatus 60 to a user.
For example, the at least one output interface 77 may deliver information related to a drying course, operation time of the second clothes treating apparatus 60 or drying settings to the user. Information related to operations of the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may be output through a screen, an indicator, a voice, and the like. The at least one output interface 77 may include, for example, a LCD panel, a LED panel, a speaker, and the like.
The drying courses may include drying settings (e.g., drying temperature, a drying time, intensity of drying, etc.) set in advance by a designer of the second clothes treating apparatus 60 according to kinds (e.g., bedclothes, underwear, etc.) and materials (e.g., wool, etc.) of an object to be dried. For example, standard drying may include drying settings capable of being applied to most of objects to be dried, and bedclothes drying may include drying settings optimized to dry bedclothes. The drying courses may be divided into, for example, standard drying, strong drying, delicate clothes drying, bedclothes drying, baby clothes drying, towel drying, small drying, power saving drying, outdoor clothes drying, and the like.
The memory 99 may store a plurality of drying course algorithms corresponding to a plurality of drying courses. The plurality of drying course algorithms refer to algorithms for controlling a plurality of electronic components (e.g., the second driver 73, the heater 86, the fan motor 91, and/or the compressor 83) in a drying operation.
The processor 98 may perform a drying operation based on an algorithm of an operation course selected based on a user input from among the plurality of drying course algorithms stored in the memory 99.
The second driver 73 may include the second drum motor 73 a that provides a driving force for rotating the second drum 70. The second driver 73 may operate based on a control signal from the second controller 97.
According to various embodiments, the second controller 97 may control the second driver 73 based on an algorithm of an operation course selected by the user.
An aspect of the second driver 73 may be the same as that of the first driver 40 described above with reference to FIG. 6 .
The heater 86 may further heat air heated by passing through the condenser 82, or may heat air drawn in from the outside without being heated through the heat pump 80.
The heater 86 may operate based on a control signal from the second controller 97.
According to various embodiments, the second controller 97 may control the heater 86 based on an algorithm of an operation course selected by the user.
The fan motor 91 may rotate the fan 90 for circulating inside air of the second housing 61.
The fan motor 91 may operate based on a control signal from the second controller 97.
According to various embodiments, the second controller 97 may control the fan motor 91 based on an algorithm of an operation course selected by the user.
As described above, the fan motor 91 for rotating the fan 90 and the second drum motor 73 a for rotating the second drum 70 may be the same component.
According to an embodiment, in a case in which a single motor 91 and 73 a is connected to different rotating shafts to simultaneously rotate the fan 90 and the second drum 70, the second controller 97 may drive the single motor 91 and 73 a at a target RPM corresponding to a target RPM of the fan 90 or a target RPM of the second drum 70.
According to various embodiments, in a case in which the fan motor 91 for rotating the fan 90 and the second drum motor 73 a for rotating the second drum 70 are separate components, the second controller 97 may drive the fan motor 91 based on a target RPM of the fan 90 and drive the second drum motor 73 a based on a target RPM of the second drum 70.
The heat pump 80 may be for generating hot air to be supplied to the second drum 70, and may include the compressor 83 for compressing a refrigerant.
The compressor 83 may operate based on a control signal from the second controller 97.
According to various embodiments, the second controller 97 may control the compressor 83 based on an algorithm of an operation course selected by the user.
The second sensor 79 may include at least one sensor for obtaining information related to an operation state of the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
According to various embodiments, the second sensor 79 may include at least one sensor detecting a weight of drying objects accommodated in the second drum 70.
According to various embodiments, the second sensor 79 may include a temperature sensor for detecting an inside temperature of the second housing 61 and/or a sensor for detecting an operation state of the second driver 73.
The temperature sensor for detecting the inside temperature of the second housing 61 may be provided at any location inside the second housing 61. According to various embodiments, the temperature sensor may be provided at an exit of the condenser 82 or at downstream of the heater 86.
According to various embodiments, the second sensor 79 may include a vibration sensor for detecting a vibration value of the second housing 61.
The second clothes treating apparatus 60 may include the second communicator 94 for communicating with an external device (e.g., a diagnostic terminal, the first clothes treating apparatus 10, a server, a user device, and/or another home appliance) in a wired and/or wireless manner.
The diagnostic terminal is a device for diagnosing failures (or errors) of the clothes treating system, and may obtain information about a state of a plurality of electronic components provided in the clothes treating system through the clothes treating system and a wired communication network (e.g., UART communication), and notify the obtained information to the user.
The diagnostic terminal may include a communication line and a connector for establishing wired communication with the clothes treating system.
The user device and/or the other home appliance may include various electronic devices, such as a smart phone, a notebook computer, a laptop, a smart watch, an IoT hub device, another home appliance (e.g., a television and/or the second clothes treating apparatus 60), a stationary type tablet, and a speaker.
The second communicator 94 may include a short-range communication module and/or a long-distance communication module.
The second communicator 94 may transmit data to an external device or receive data from the external device. For example, the second communicator 94 may establish communication with a server, a user device, and/or another home appliance, and transmit/receive various data to/from the server, the user device, and/or the other home appliance.
To this end, the second communicator 94 may support establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel with an external device, and communications through an established communication channel. According to an embodiment, the second communicator 94 may include a wireless communication module (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication module). A corresponding communication module among the communication modules may communicate with an external device through a first network (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network, such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) Direct, or Infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (e.g., a long-distance wireless communication network, such as a legacy cellular network, a 5th Generation (5G) network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or a wide area network (WAN)). The various kinds of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented with a plurality of separate components (e.g., a plurality of chips).
The wired communication module may include a communication line and/or a connector for establishing wired communication with another device (e.g. the diagnostic terminal, the first clothes treating apparatus 10).
The short-range wireless communication module may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication module, a Near Field Communication (NFC) module, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN; WiFi) communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an IrDA communication module, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication module, a Ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, etc., without being limited thereto.
The long-distance wireless communication module may include a communication module that performs various kinds of long-distance communications, and may include a mobile communicator. The mobile communicator may transmit/receive a wireless signal to/from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, or a server on a mobile communication network.
According to an embodiment, the second communicator 94 may communicate with an external device, such as a server, a user device, another home appliance, etc., through a nearby Access Point (AP). The AP may connect a LAN to which the second clothes treating apparatus 60 and/or a user device and/or another home appliance is connected to a WAN to which a server is connected. The second clothes treating apparatus 60 and/or the user device and/or the other home appliance may be connected to the server through the WAN.
The second controller 97 may control various components (e.g., the second driver 73, the heater 86, the fan motor 91, and/or the compressor 83) of the second clothes treating apparatus 60. The second controller 97 may control various components of the second clothes treating apparatus 60 to perform a drying operation according to a user input. For example, the second controller 97 may control the second drum motor 73 a of the second driver 73 to control RPM of the second drum 70, control an operation of the heater 86 to rapidly heat inside air of the second drum 70, control an operation of the compressor 83 to generate hot air to be supplied to the second drum 70, or control an operation of the fan motor 91 to circulate hot air generated by the heat pump 80 to the inside of the second drum 70.
The second controller 97 may include hardware, such as a CPU, a Micom (e.g., MCU or MPU), or a memory, and software such as a control program, and the like. For example, the second controller 97 may include at least one memory 99 that stores data in a form of an algorithm or program for controlling operations of components in the second clothes treating apparatus 60, and at least one processor 98 that performs the above-described operations and operations to be described below by using data stored in the at least one memory 99. The memory 99 and the processor 98 may be implemented as separate chips. The processor 98 may include one, two, or more processor chips or one, two, or more processing cores. The memory 99 may include one, two, or more memory chips or one, two, or more memory blocks. Also, the memory 99 and the processor 98 may be implemented as a single chip.
FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 8 , the clothes treating system 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may be connected operatively and/or electrically to the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
Various information obtained in the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may be transferred to the second clothes treating apparatus 60, and various information obtained in the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may be transferred to the first clothes treating apparatus 10.
According to an embodiment, the clothes treating system 1 may include the user interface device 100.
The user interface device 100 may be provided in the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and/or the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
According to an embodiment, the user interface device 100 may be positioned at one side of the first housing 11.
The user interface device 100 of the clothes treating system 1 may be for controlling both the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60, and may be defined as an integrated user interface device 100.
According to an embodiment, because the clothes treating system 1 includes the user interface device 100, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may not include the first user interface device 15 for controlling only the first clothes treating apparatus 10.
According to an embodiment, because the clothes treating system 1 includes the user interface device 100, the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may not include the second user interface device 75 for controlling only the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
According to various embodiments, although the clothes treating system 1 includes the user interface device 100, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include the first user interface device 15 for controlling only the first clothes treating apparatus 10. As another example, although the clothes treating system 1 includes the user interface device 100, the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may include the second user interface device 75 for controlling only the second clothes treating apparatus 60. As still another example, although the clothes treating system 1 includes the user interface device 100, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may include the first user interface device 15 for controlling only the first clothes treating apparatus 10, and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may include the second user interface device 75 for controlling only the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
That is, according to an embodiment, the clothes treating system 1 may include the user interface device 100 for controlling the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60, the first user interface device 15 for controlling the first clothes treating apparatus 10, and/or the second user interface device 75 for controlling the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
The user interface device 100 may provide a user interface for enabling a user to interact with the clothes treating system 1. The user interface for enabling a user to interact with the clothes treating system 1 may refer to a user interface for enabling a user to interact with the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
The user interface device 100 may include at least one input interface 110 and at least one output interface 120.
The at least one input interface 110 may convert sensory information received from a user into an electrical signal and transfer the electrical signal to the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and/or the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
The at least input interface 110 may include a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone, etc.
According to an embodiment, the at least one input interface 110 may transfer a control command corresponding to a user input to the first controller 23 and the second controller 97.
The at least one output interface 120 may transfer various data related to operations of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 to a user by generating sensory information.
The at least one output interface 120 may include a LCD panel, a LED panel, a speaker, etc.
A panel on which the at least one input interface 110 and the at least one output interface 120 are formed may be defined as a control panel.
The at least one input interface 110 and the at least one output interface 120 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B below.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may communicate with each other through the first communicator 19 of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second communicator 94 of the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
According to an embodiment, the communicators 19 and 94 may directly communicate with each other using a Device-to-Device (D2D) wireless communication module (e.g., a Bluetooth module).
According to an embodiment, the communicators 19 and 94 may communicate with each other via a server through a WAN.
According to various embodiments, each of the communicators 19 and 94 may include a wired communication module (e.g., a communication connector and/or a communication line), and the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may be connected to each other by wire.
According to various embodiments, the user interface device 100 may further include the connection circuit board 130. The connection circuit board 130 may be implemented as a printed circuit board.
The connection circuit board 130 may include a communication line and/or a communication connector to be connected to the first communicator 19 and the second communicator 94.
The connection circuit board 130 may connect the first communicator 19 to the second communicator 94 by wire.
Each of the first communicator 19 and the second communicator 94 may be connected to the connection circuit board 130.
The connection circuit board 130 may manage data exchange between the first controller 23 and the second controller 97.
For example, the connection circuit board 130 may transfer a signal transferred from the first controller 23 through the first communicator 19 to the second controller 97 through the second communicator 94.
As another example, the connection circuit board 130 may transfer a signal transferred from the second controller 97 through the second communicator 94 to the first controller 23 through the first communicator 19.
According to various embodiments, the connection circuit board 130 may transfer course information selected by the at least one input interface 110 to the first controller 23 through the first communicator 19.
According to various embodiments, the connection circuit board 130 may transfer course information selected by the at least one input interface 110 to the second controller 97 through the second communicator 94.
The connection circuit board 130 may convert a signal received through the first communicator 19 to be decodable by the second controller 97. For example, the connection circuit board 130 may convert a data format received through the first communicator 19 into a data format usable by the second controller 97.
The connection circuit board 130 may convert a signal received through the second communicator 94 to be decodable by the first controller 23. For example, the connection circuit board 130 may convert a data format received through the second communicator 94 into a data format usable by the first controller 23.
To this end, the connection circuit board 130 may include a converter that converts the signal received through the first communicator 19 to be decodable by the second controller 97, and converts the signal received through the second communicator 94 to be decodable by the first controller 23.
According to an embodiment, the first communicator 19 and the second communicator 94 may transmit and receive signals via a wired communication network (e.g. a UART communication network).
According to the disclosure, because the user interface device 100 includes the connection circuit board 130, communication between the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may be stably performed, and also, communication of the user interface device 100 with the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may be stably performed.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating that a diagnostic terminal is connected to a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 9 , the clothes treating system 1 according to an embodiment may include a diagnostic port 150.
According to an embodiment, the diagnostic port 150 may be positioned in the housing door 150 b provided in the first housing 11.
A diagnostic terminal 200 may include a communicator 210 connectable to the diagnostic port 150.
The communicator 210 may be a connector, and the connector may be connected to a main body of the diagnostic terminal 200 by a communication cable.
The connector of the diagnostic terminal 200 may be coupled to the diagnostic port 150, and in response to the connector of the diagnostic terminal 200 being connected to the diagnostic port 150, the communicator 210 may perform wired communication with the first communicator 210.
FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating that a diagnostic terminal is connected to a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 10 , the diagnostic terminal 200 may be connected to the diagnostic port 150 positioned in the first housing 11 in a wired manner, and thus the diagnostic terminal 200 connected to the diagnostic port 150 may be connected to the first controller 23 in a wired manner. The first controller 23 may be connected to the connection circuit board in a wired manner, the second controller 97 may be connected to the connection circuit board in a wired manner, and thus the first controller 23 and the second controller 97 may be connected to each other in a wired manner.
Accordingly, the diagnostic terminal 200 and the second controller 97 may perform communication with each other through the first controller 23.
That is, the first controller 23 may serve as a hub for wired communication among the diagnostic terminal 200, the first clothes treating apparatus 10, and the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
According to various embodiments, the clothes treating system 1 may not include the connection circuit board, and the first controller 23 and the second controller 97 may be directly connected to each other by wire.
FIG. 11 is a control block diagram illustrating that a diagnostic terminal is connected to a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Redundant descriptions of the components of FIG. 8 are omitted.
Referring to FIG. 11 , the diagnostic terminal 200 according to an embodiment may include the communicator 210, an input interface 220, an output interface 230 and a controller 240.
The communicator 210 may include a wired cable and/or a connector that may be connected to the diagnostic port 150 provided in the first clothes treating apparatus 10.
In response to the communicator 210 being connected to the diagnostic port 150 provided in the first clothes treating apparatus 10, the diagnostic terminal 200 may communicate with the first controller 23 via a wired communication network (e.g., a UART communication network).
According to various embodiments, the communicator 210 may further include a short-range communication module and/or a long-distance communication module exchanging data with an external device (e.g., a user device).
According to an embodiment, the communicator 210 may transmit diagnosis result data of the clothes treating system 1 to the external device (e.g., a user device) through the short-range communication module and/or the long-distance communication module.
According to various embodiments, the diagnostic terminal 200 may only include the communicator 210 without the input interface 220 and/or the output interface 230.
In this case, the diagnostic terminal 200 may perform various functions based on a user input received from a user device through the communicator 210.
The controller 240 may include at least one memory storing a program for controlling an operation of the diagnostic terminal 200, and at least one processor executing the stored program.
The input interface 220 may receive a variety of user inputs for controlling the diagnostic terminal 200 from a user. For example, the input interface 220 may include a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone, and the like.
The output interface 230 may output a user interface for diagnosing a state of the clothes treating system 1 and/or a user interface for notifying a diagnosis result of the clothes treating system 1.
The controller 240 controls the communicator 210 to transmit a diagnosis start signal to the first communicator 19 in response to wired communication being established between the communicator 210 of the diagnostic terminal 200 and the first communicator 19.
The diagnosis start signal may include identification information of the diagnostic terminal 200.
The identification information of the diagnostic terminal 200 may include, for example, a model number, a serial number, and the like of the diagnostic terminal 200.
The first controller 23 may control the first communicator 19 to transmit a receipt acknowledgement signal to the communicator 210 of the diagnostic terminal 200 in response to receiving the diagnosis start signal from the communicator 210 of the diagnostic terminal 200.
According to the disclosure, transmitting a signal to the diagnostic port 150 by the first controller 23 and/or the second controller 97 may include transmitting a signal to an external device connected to the diagnostic port 150 (e.g., the diagnostic terminal 200) by the first controller 23 and/or the second controller 97.
According to the disclosure, receiving a signal from the diagnostic port 150 by the first controller 23 and/or the second controller 97 may include receiving a signal from an external device (e.g., the diagnostic terminal 200) connected to the diagnostic port 150 by the first controller 23 and/or the second controller 97.
Furthermore, a receiving end of the diagnostic port 150 may refer to a receiving end of the diagnostic terminal 200, and a transmitting end of the diagnostic port 150 may refer to a transmitting end of the diagnostic terminal 20.
Hereinafter, for convenience of description, transmitting a signal to the diagnostic port 150 by the first controller 23 and/or the second controller 97 is expressed as transmitting a signal to the diagnostic terminal 20 by the first controller 23 and/or the second controller 97, and receiving a signal from the diagnostic port 150 by the first controller 23 and/or the second controller 97 is expressed as receiving a signal from the diagnostic terminal 20 by the first controller 23 and/or the second controller 97.
The receipt acknowledgement signal may include identification information of the clothes treating system 1.
The identification information of the clothes treating system 1 may include, for example, a model number, a serial number, and the like of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and/or a model number, a serial number, and the like of the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
In response to receiving the diagnosis start signal from the communicator 210 of the diagnostic terminal 200, the first controller 23 may perform communication with the second controller 97 or the diagnostic terminal 200 according to a preset communication sequence.
According to the disclosure, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 serves as a communication hub between the diagnostic terminal 200 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60, thereby minimizing the number of diagnostic ports 150.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating operations of selecting a diagnosis target through a diagnostic terminal according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 12 , the diagnostic terminal 200 may provide a user interface for selecting a diagnosis target of the clothes treating system 1.
For example, in response to communication being established between the communicator 210 and the first communicator 19, the diagnostic terminal 200 may provide the user interface for selecting a diagnosis target.
The user interface for selecting a diagnosis target may include a user interface element for selecting the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and a user interface element for selecting the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
The diagnostic terminal 200 may receive a user input for selecting a diagnosis target.
In response to receiving the user input for selecting the diagnosis target, the diagnostic terminal 200 may provide a user interface for starting a diagnosis of the selected clothes treating apparatus.
In response to confirming a user's diagnosis intention to start the diagnosis of the selected clothes treating apparatus via the user interface, the diagnostic terminal 200 may transmit a diagnosis request signal to the first communicator 19.
The diagnosis request signal may include identification information about a transmitter and identification information about a receiver.
The identification information about a transmitter and the identification information about a receiver may have predetermined data values corresponding to respective apparatuses.
The identification information about the transmitter of the diagnosis request signal output from the diagnostic terminal 200 may be identification information of the diagnostic terminal 200.
In response to the diagnosis target being the first clothes treating apparatus 10, the diagnosis request signal may include identification information of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 as identification information about a receiver.
In response to the diagnosis target being the second clothes treating apparatus 60, the diagnosis request signal may include identification information of the second clothes treating apparatus 60 as identification information about a receiver.
FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a communication diagnostic port of a diagnostic terminal and a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 13 , the diagnostic terminal 200 may include a transmitting end DT for transmitting a signal to the clothes treating system 1, and a receiving end DR for receiving a signal from the clothes treating system 1.
The first controller 23 may include a plurality of transmitting ends DT1 and CT1 and a plurality of receiving ends DR1 and CR1.
The plurality of transmitting ends DT1 and CT1 may include the control transmitting end CT1 for transmitting a signal to a plurality of electronic components (e.g. the first driver 40, the water supply 50, the drain device 54 and/or a heater (not shown)), and the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 for transmitting a signal to the controller 240 of the diagnostic terminal 200 and the second controller 97.
The plurality of receiving ends DR1 and CR1 may include the control receiving end CR1 for receiving a signal from the plurality of electronic components and/or the first sensor 18, and the diagnosis receiving end DR1 for receiving a signal from the controller 240 of the diagnostic terminal 200 and the second controller 97.
The second controller 97 may include a plurality of transmitting ends DT2 and CT2 and a plurality of receiving ends DR2 and CR2.
The plurality of transmitting ends DT2 and CT2 may include the control transmitting end CT2 for transmitting a signal to a plurality of electronic components (e.g. the second driver 73, the heater 86, the fan motor 91 and/or the compressor 83), and the diagnosis transmitting end DT2 for transmitting a signal to the first controller 23.
The plurality of receiving ends DR2 and CR2 may include the control receiving end CR2 for receiving a signal from the plurality of electronic components and/or the second sensor 79, and the diagnosis receiving end DR2 for receiving a signal from the first controller 23.
The controller 240 of the diagnostic terminal 200 may include the transmitting end DT and the receiving end DR.
In response to communication being established between the communicator 210 of the diagnostic terminal 200 and the first communicator 19, the transmitting end DT of the diagnostic terminal 200 may be connected to the diagnosis receiving end DR1 of the first controller 97, and the receiving end DR of the diagnostic terminal 200 may be connected to the diagnosis transmitting end DT2 of the second controller 97.
According to an embodiment, the diagnosis transmitting end DT2 for transmitting a signal to the first controller 23 may be connected to the diagnosis receiving end DR1 of the first controller 23 through the connection circuit board 130, and may be directly connected to the diagnosis receiving end DR1 of the first controller 23.
According to an embodiment, the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 for transmitting a signal to the second controller 97 may be connected to the diagnosis receiving end DR2 of the second controller 97 through the connection circuit board 130, and may be directly connected to the diagnosis receiving end DR2 of the second controller 97.
According to various embodiments, the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 of the first controller 23 may be connected to the receiving end DR of the diagnostic terminal 200 and the diagnosis receiving end DR2 of the second controller 97.
That is, a single transmitting end of the first controller 23 may be electrically connected to the receiving ends of a plurality of devices.
According to various embodiments, the diagnosis receiving end DR1 of the first controller 23 may be connected to the transmitting end DT of the diagnostic terminal 200 and the diagnosis transmitting end DT2 of the second controller 97.
That is, a single receiving end of the first controller 23 may be electrically connected to the transmitting ends of a plurality of devices.
According to the disclosure, communication with a plurality of devices may be performed by using only a single transmitting end and a single receiving end.
Also, according to the disclosure, even when the clothes treating system 1 includes only a single diagnostic port 150, a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses and the diagnostic terminal 200 may communicate with each other.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of diagnosing a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 14 , a method of diagnosing the clothes treating system 1 is illustrated from a perspective of the first clothes treating apparatus 10.
The diagnostic terminal 200 may transmit a diagnosis request signal to the first clothes treating apparatus 10, in response to the diagnostic terminal 200 being coupled to the diagnostic port 150 of the first clothes treating apparatus 10.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may receive the diagnosis request signal from the diagnostic terminal 200 (1000).
According to an embodiment, the first controller 23 may receive the diagnosis request signal from the diagnostic terminal 200 through the first communicator 19.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may identify a diagnosis target based on the diagnosis request signal (1100).
According to an embodiment, the first controller 23 may identify the diagnosis target based on the diagnosis request signal.
The diagnosis request signal may include identification information about a receiver.
The first controller 23 may identify whether the diagnosis target is the first clothes treating apparatus 10 or the second clothes treating apparatus 60 based on the identification information about a receiver included in the diagnosis request signal.
For example, in response to the identification information about a receiver being identification information about the first clothes treating apparatus 10, the first controller 23 may identify the diagnosis target as the first clothes treating apparatus 10, and in response to the identification information about a receiver being identification information about the second clothes treating apparatus 60, the first controller 23 may identify the diagnosis target as the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
In response to the diagnosis target being identified as the first clothes treating apparatus 10, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may perform a diagnostic operation of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 (1200).
The diagnostic operation refers to an operation in which the first clothes treating apparatus 10 drives a plurality of electronic components (e.g., the first driver 40, the water supply 50, the drain device 54, and/or the heater (not shown)) based on a predefined diagnostic algorithm, and receives data related to a diagnosis result from the plurality of electronic components and/or the first sensor 18.
According to an embodiment, the first controller 23 may receive the diagnosis request signal through the diagnosis receiving end DR1, transmit a control command according to the predefined diagnostic algorithm through the control transmitting end CT1, and receive data related to the diagnosis result through the control receiving end CR1.
The first controller 23 may obtain diagnosis result data by driving the plurality of electronic components based on the predefined diagnostic algorithm.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may transmit a diagnosis result signal of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 to the diagnostic terminal 200 (1300).
The diagnosis result signal may include information about a result of the diagnostic operation of the first clothes treating apparatus 10.
According to an embodiment, the first controller 23 may transmit the diagnosis result signal including the diagnosis result data to the diagnostic terminal 200.
The first controller 23 may output the diagnosis result signal of the first clothes treating apparatus 10 through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1.
In response to the diagnosis target being identified as the second clothes treating apparatus 60, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 may transmit a diagnosis request signal to the second clothes treating apparatus 60 (1150).
According to an embodiment, the first controller 23 may output the diagnosis request signal through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1, in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
According to an embodiment, identification information about a transmitter included in the diagnosis request signal transmitted from the first clothes treating apparatus 10 to the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may be different from identification information about a transmitter included in the diagnosis request signal transmitted to the first clothes treating apparatus 10 from the diagnostic terminal 200.
In response to receiving the diagnosis request signal from the first clothes treating apparatus 10, the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may perform a diagnostic operation of the second clothes treating apparatus 60 and transmit a diagnosis result signal to the first clothes treating apparatus 10.
The diagnostic operation refers to an operation in which the second clothes treating apparatus 60 drives a plurality of electronic components (e.g., the second driver 73, the heater 86, the fan motor 91, and/or the compressor 83) based on a predefined diagnostic algorithm, and receives data related to a diagnosis result from the plurality of electronic components and/or the second sensor 79.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may receive a diagnosis result signal from the second clothes treating apparatus 60 (1160).
According to an embodiment, the second controller 97 may output the diagnosis result signal through the diagnosis transmitting end DT2, and the first controller 23 may receive the diagnosis result signal through the diagnosis receiving end DR1.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 may transmit the diagnosis result signal received from the second clothes treating apparatus 60 to the diagnostic terminal 200 (1300).
The diagnosis result signal may include information about a result of the diagnostic operation of the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
According to an embodiment, the first controller 23 may output the diagnosis result signal of the second clothes treating apparatus 60 through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1.
The signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 (e.g., the diagnosis request signal and diagnosis result signal) may be transmitted to the receiving end DR of the diagnostic terminal 200 and the diagnosis receiving end DR2 of the second controller 97 (or the connection circuit board 130).
However, because the signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 includes identification information of a receiver, the controller 240 of the diagnostic terminal 200 and the second controller 97 may identify to which target the signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 is to be transmitted.
According to an embodiment, the controller 240 of the diagnostic terminal 200 may ignore the signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1, when receiver identification information included in the signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 corresponds to the second clothes treating apparatus 60.
For example, only when receiver identification information included in a signal received through the receiving end DR matches identification information of the diagnostic terminal 200, the controller 240 of the diagnostic terminal 200 may process the signal received through the receiving end DR.
According to an embodiment, the second controller 97 may ignore the signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1, when receiver identification information included in the signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 corresponds to the diagnostic terminal 200.
For example, only when receiver identification information included in a signal received through the diagnosis receiving end DR2 matches identification information of the second clothes treating apparatus 60, the second controller 97 may process the signal received through the diagnosis receiving end DR2.
According to an embodiment, the connection circuit board 130 may ignore the signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1, when receiver identification information included in the signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 corresponds to the diagnostic terminal 200.
For example, only when receiver identification information included in the signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 matches identification information of the second clothes treating apparatus 60, the connection circuit board 130 may transmit the signal to the diagnosis receiving end DR2.
The signal received through the diagnosis receiving end DR1 (e.g., a diagnosis request signal and a diagnosis result signal) may be output from the transmitting end DT of the diagnostic terminal 200 and the diagnosis transmitting end DT2 of the second controller 97 (or the connection circuit board 130).
However, because the signal received through the diagnosis receiving end DR1 includes identification information of a transmitter, the first controller 23 may identify how to process the signal received through the diagnosis receiving end DR1.
According to the disclosure, even when the first controller 23 only includes one pair of communication ports (the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 and the diagnosis receiving end DR1), the first controller 23 may relay communication between the diagnostic terminal 200 and a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses.
FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 illustrate a flow of a diagnosis request signal and a diagnosis result signal, in a conceptual diagram illustrating a communication diagnostic port of a diagnostic terminal and a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 15 , a diagnosis request signal output from the transmitting end DT of the diagnostic terminal 200 may be transmitted to the diagnosis receiving end DR1 of the first controller 23.
In response to the diagnosis request signal being a signal for requesting a diagnostic operation of the first clothes treating apparatus 10, the first controller 23 may perform a diagnostic operation corresponding to the diagnosis request signal.
The first controller 23 may output a diagnosis result signal, obtained in response to performing the diagnostic operation, through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1.
The diagnosis result signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 may be transmitted to the receiving end DR of the diagnostic terminal 200.
The diagnosis result signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 may be transmitted to the second controller 97, but the second controller 97 may ignore the diagnosis result signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 based on receiver identification information.
The diagnosis result signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 may be transmitted to the connection circuit board 130, but the connection circuit board 130 may ignore the diagnosis result signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 based on the receiver identification information.
Referring to FIG. 16 , a diagnosis request signal output through the transmitting end DT of the diagnostic terminal 200 may be transmitted to the diagnosis receiving end DR1 of the first controller 23.
In response to the diagnosis request signal being a signal for requesting a diagnostic operation of the second clothes treating apparatus 60, the first controller 23 may transmit the diagnosis request signal to the second controller 97 through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1.
The second controller 97 may receive the diagnosis request signal from the second controller 97 through the diagnosis receiving end DR2, and may perform a diagnostic operation in response to receiving the diagnosis request signal.
The second controller 97 may output a diagnosis result signal, obtained in response to performing the diagnostic operation, through the diagnosis transmitting end DT2.
The diagnosis result signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT2 may be transmitted to the diagnosis receiving end DR2 of the first controller 23.
The first controller 23 may transmit the diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic terminal 200 through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1, in response to receiving the diagnosis result signal of the second clothes treating apparatus 60 through the diagnosis receiving end DR2.
The diagnosis result signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 may be transmitted to the second controller 97, but the second controller 97 may ignore the diagnosis result signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 based on receiver identification information.
The diagnosis result signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 may be transmitted to the connection circuit board 130, but the connection circuit board 130 may ignore the diagnosis result signal output through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 based on the receiver identification information.
FIG. 17 illustrates an example of data structures of a diagnosis request signal and a diagnosis result signal according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 17 , a diagnosis request signal and a diagnosis result signal may include receiver identification information and transmitter identification information.
Information included in Address 1 may correspond to transmitter identification information, and information included in Address 2 may correspond to receiver identification information.
According to an embodiment, the diagnostic terminal 200, the first clothes treating apparatus 10 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 may each have different identification information (e.g., a data value).
A data value corresponding to the first clothes treating apparatus 10, a data value corresponding to the second clothes treating apparatus 60, and a data value corresponding to the diagnostic terminal 200 may be different from each other.
Accordingly, the controller 240 of the diagnostic terminal 200, the first controller 23 and the second controller 97 may identify a receiver and a transmitter.
In addition to the diagnosis request signal and the diagnosis result signal, signals transmitted and received among the diagnostic terminal 200, the first controller 23 and the second controller 97 may include receiver identification information and transmitter identification information.
FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a preset communication sequence.
When the first controller 23 performs wired communication with a plurality of apparatuses using the single transmitting end DT1 and receiving end DR1 without a communication sequence, a communication conflict may occur.
For example, when the diagnostic terminal 200 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 simultaneously output signals, the first controller 23 may not receive any data due to a communication conflict in the single receiving end DR1.
As another example, when the first controller 23 simultaneously output signals to the diagnostic terminal 200 and the second clothes treating apparatus 60, the first controller 23 may not transmit any data due to a communication conflict in the single transmitting end DT1.
According to an embodiment, the first controller 23 may perform communication with the second controller 97 or the diagnostic terminal 200 according to a preset communication sequence, in response to the diagnostic terminal 200 being connected to the diagnostic port 150.
For example, in response to receiving a diagnosis start signal from the diagnostic terminal 200, the first controller 23 may perform communication with the second controller 97 or the diagnostic terminal 200 according to a preset communication sequence.
Referring to FIG. 18 , the preset communication sequence may include at least four communication sequences.
The first controller 23 may transmit and receive data according to the at least four communication sequences.
A first sequence K1 may be a sequence in which the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 of the first controller 23 transmits a signal to the diagnostic terminal 200. In the first sequence K1, the first controller 23 may output only a signal whose transmitter identification information corresponds to the diagnostic terminal 200 through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1.
A second sequence K2 may be a sequence in which the diagnosis receiving end DR1 of the first controller 23 receives a signal from the diagnostic terminal 200. In the second sequence K2, the first controller 23 may receive and process only a signal whose receiver identification information corresponds to the diagnostic terminal 200 through the diagnosis receiving end DR1.
A third sequence K3 may be a sequence in which the diagnosis transmitting end DT1 of the first controller 23 transmits a signal to the second clothes treating apparatus 60. In the third sequence K3, the first controller 23 may output only a signal whose transmitter identification information corresponds to the second clothes treating apparatus 60 through the diagnosis transmitting end DT1.
A fourth sequence K4 may be a sequence in which the diagnosis receiving end DR1 of the first controller 23 receives a signal from the second clothes treating apparatus 60. In the fourth sequence K4, the first controller 23 may receive and process only a signal whose receiver identification information corresponds to the second clothes treating apparatus 60 through the diagnosis receiving end DR1.
The preset communication sequence may correspond to any combination of the first, second, third, and fourth sequences K1, K2, K3, and K4.
For example, the preset communication sequence may be in an order of the first sequence K1, the third sequence K3, the second sequence K2, and the fourth sequence K4, without being limited thereto.
According to the disclosure, a communication conflict that occurs in a wired communication port after receiving the diagnosis start signal may be avoided.
According to various embodiments, in response to the diagnostic terminal 200 being disconnected from the diagnostic port 150, the first controller 23 may perform communication with the second controller 97 according to the communication sequence of the third sequence K3 and the fourth sequence K4.
The diagnostic terminal 200 may transmit a diagnosis end signal to the first controller 23, in response to receiving a user input to end the diagnosis through the input interface 220.
According to an embodiment, in response to receiving the diagnosis end signal from the diagnostic terminal 200, the first controller 23 may perform communication with the second controller 97 according to a communication sequence of the third sequence K3 and the fourth sequence K4.
FIG. 19 , FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 are conceptual diagrams illustrating that a diagnostic terminal is connected to a clothes treating system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 19 , FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 , a clothes treating system 1 a according to an embodiment may include a first clothes treating apparatus 10 a and a second clothes treating apparatus 60 a.
Unlike the clothes treating system 1 shown in FIG. 10 , the clothes treating system 1 a according to an embodiment may include a plurality of diagnostic ports 151 a and 152 a.
Hereinafter, except for components different from those of the clothes treating system 1 shown in FIG. 10 , the same reference numerals are used.
The first clothes treating apparatus 10 a may include a first housing 11 a, and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 a may include a second housing 61 a.
A first door 13 a may be formed on a front side of the first housing 11 a, and an opening corresponding to the first door 13 a may be formed.
A second door 63 a may be formed on a front side of the second housing 61 a, and an opening corresponding to the second door 63 a may be formed.
Referring to FIG. 19 , according to various embodiments, the first diagnostic port 151 a may be provided on a front side of the first housing 11 a. The second diagnostic port 152 a may be provided on a front side of the second housing 61 a.
According to an embodiment, the first diagnostic port 151 a may be provided below the first door 13 a. A housing cover corresponding to the housing opening may be provided below the first door 13 a, and the first diagnostic port 151 a may be provided in the housing opening and may be covered by the housing cover. The first diagnostic port 151 a may be connected to the first controller 23 by wire.
According to an embodiment, the second diagnostic port 152 a may be provided below the second door 63 a. A housing cover corresponding to the housing opening may be provided below the second door 63 a, and the second diagnostic port 152 a may be provided in the housing opening and may be covered by the housing cover. The second diagnostic port 152 a may be connected to the second controller 97 and the connection circuit board 130 by wire.
According to the disclosure, both the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a are provided on a front side of the clothes treating system 1 a, thereby enabling a user to easily couple the diagnostic terminal to the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a without dissembling and assembling the clothes treating system.
Referring to FIG. 20 , according to various embodiments, the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a may be provided on a front side of the first housing 11 a.
According to an embodiment, the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a may be provided below the first door 13 a. A single housing cover corresponding to a single housing opening may be provided below the first door 13 a, and the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a may be provided in the housing opening and may be covered by the housing cover.
According to various embodiments, two housing covers corresponding to two housing openings may be provided below the first door 13 a, and the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a may each be provided in different housing openings and may each be covered by different housing covers.
The first diagnostic port 151 a may be provided below the second diagnostic port 152 a.
The first diagnostic port 151 a may be connected to the first controller 23 by wire.
The second diagnostic port 152 a may be connected to the second controller 97 by wire.
According to an embodiment, the second diagnostic port 152 a may be connected to the second controller 97 through the connection circuit board 130, or may be directly connected to the second controller 97.
According to the disclosure, both the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a are provided on a front side of the clothes treating system, thereby enabling a user to easily couple the diagnostic terminal to the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a without dissembling and assembling the clothes treating system.
Also, according to the disclosure, diagnosis of both the first clothes treating apparatus 10 a and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 a may be performed using only the first clothes treating apparatus 10 a.
Referring to FIG. 21 , according to various embodiments, the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a may be provided on a front side of the second housing 61 a.
According to an embodiment, the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a may be provided below the second door 63 a. A single housing cover corresponding to a single housing opening may be provided below the second door 63 a, and the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a may be provided in the housing opening and may be covered by the housing cover.
According to various embodiments, two housing covers corresponding to two housing openings may be provided below the second door 63 a, and the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a may each be provided in different housing openings and may each be covered by different housing covers.
The first diagnostic port 151 a may be provided below the second diagnostic port 152 a.
The first diagnostic port 151 a may be connected to the first controller 23 by wire.
The second diagnostic port 152 a may be connected to the second controller 97 by wire.
According to an embodiment, the first diagnostic port 151 a may be connected to the first controller 23 through the connection circuit board 130, or may be directly connected to the first controller 23.
According to the disclosure, both the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a are provided on the front side of the clothes treating system 1 a, thereby enabling a user to easily couple the diagnostic terminal to the first diagnostic port 151 a and the second diagnostic port 152 a without dissembling and assembling the clothes treating system 1 a.
Also, according to the disclosure, diagnosis of both the first clothes treating apparatus 10 a and the second clothes treating apparatus 60 a may be performed using only the second clothes treating apparatus 60 a.
According to an embodiment, a clothes treating system may include a first clothes treating apparatus including a first drum, a first controller configured to control an operation of the first drum, and a diagnostic port; and a second clothes treating apparatus including a second drum, and a second controller configured to control an operation of the second drum, and the first controller may include a first transmitting end and a first receiving end.
The first controller may be configured to receive a first diagnosis request signal from the diagnostic port through the first receiving end, and identify a diagnosis target based on the first diagnosis request signal.
The first controller may be configured to transmit a first diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic port through the first transmitting end, after performing a diagnostic operation corresponding to the first diagnosis request signal in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the first clothes treating apparatus.
The first controller may be configured to transmit a second diagnosis request signal to the second controller through the first transmitting end, in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the second clothes treating apparatus.
The second controller may include a second transmitting end and a second receiving end, and the first transmitting end is connected to a receiving end of the diagnostic port and the second receiving end, and the first receiving end is connected to a transmitting end of the diagnostic port and the second transmitting end.
A signal output through the first transmitting end may be transmitted to the diagnostic port and the second receiving end.
The clothes treating system may further include a connection circuit board configured to connect the first controller and the second controller by wire. The first transmitting end may be connected to the second receiving end through the connection circuit board, and the first receiving end may be connected to the second transmitting end through the connection circuit board.
The connection circuit board may be configured to convert a signal received from the first transmitting end to be decodable by the second controller, and convert a signal received from the second transmitting end to be decodable by the first controller.
Each of the first diagnosis result signal and the second diagnosis request signal may include identification information about a transmitter and identification information about a receiver.
The second controller may be configured to, in response to receiving the second diagnosis request signal from the first controller, transmit a second diagnosis result signal to the first receiving end after performing a diagnostic operation corresponding to the second diagnosis request signal, and the first controller may be configured to transmit the second diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic port, in response to receiving the second diagnosis result signal from the second controller through the first receiving end.
The first controller may be configured to perform communication with the second controller or the diagnostic terminal according to a preset communication sequence, in response to the diagnostic terminal being connected to the diagnostic port.
The preset communication sequence may include: a first sequence in which the first transmitting end transmits a signal to the diagnostic terminal; a second sequence in which the first receiving end receives a signal from the diagnostic terminal; a third sequence in which the first transmitting end transmits a signal to the second controller; and a fourth sequence in which the first receiving end receives a signal from the second controller.
The second controller may be configured to ignore a signal output through the first transmitting end, in response to receiver identification information included in the signal output through the first transmitting end corresponding to the diagnostic terminal.
The connection circuit board may be configured to ignore a signal output through the first transmitting end, in response to receiver identification information included in the signal output through the first transmitting end corresponding to the diagnostic terminal.
The first controller may be configured to identify the diagnosis target as the first clothes treating apparatus, in response to receiver identification information included in the first diagnosis request signal corresponding to the first clothes treating apparatus, and identify the diagnosis target as the second clothes treating apparatus, in response to the receiver identification information included in the first diagnosis request signal corresponding to the second clothes treating apparatus.
The first clothes treating apparatus may include a housing for accommodating the first drum, and a door formed on the housing to open and close an opening corresponding to the first drum, and the diagnostic port may be provided below the door.
The first clothes treating apparatus may be a washing machine and the second clothes treating apparatus may be a dryer.
According to an embodiment, a method of diagnosing a clothes treating system may include receiving, by the first controller, a first diagnosis request signal from the diagnostic port through a first receiving end; and identifying, by the first controller, a diagnosis target based on the first diagnosis request signal.
The method of diagnosing a clothes treating system may include, in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the first clothes treating apparatus, transmitting, by the first controller, a first diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic port through a first transmitting end, after performing a diagnostic operation corresponding to the first diagnosis request signal.
The method of diagnosing a clothes treating system may include, in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the second clothes treating apparatus, transmitting, by the first controller, a second diagnosis request signal to the second controller through the first transmitting end.
The method of diagnosing a clothes treating system may include, in response to receiving the second diagnosis request signal from the first controller, transmitting, by the second controller, a second diagnosis result signal to the first receiving end, after performing a diagnostic operation corresponding to the second diagnosis request signal.
The method of diagnosing a clothes treating system may include, in response to receiving the second diagnosis result signal from the second controller through the first receiving end, transmitting, by the first controller, the second diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic port.
Identifying, by the first controller, the diagnosis target based on the first diagnosis request signal may include: identifying the diagnosis target as the first clothes treating apparatus in response to receiver identification information included in the first diagnosis request signal corresponding to the first clothes treating apparatus; and identifying the diagnosis target as the second clothes treating apparatus in response to receiver identification information included in the first diagnosis request signal corresponding to the second clothes treating apparatus.
According to an embodiment, the clothes treating system may include a first clothes treating apparatus including a first housing, a first drum accommodated in the first housing, and a first door configured to open and close the first drum; a second clothes treating apparatus including a second housing, a second drum accommodated in the second housing, and a second door configured to open and close the second drum; a first diagnostic port provided on a front side of any one of the first housing or the second housing; and a second diagnostic port provided on a front side of any one of the first housing or the second housing.
Both the first diagnostic port and the second diagnostic port may be provided on the front side of the first housing.
The first diagnostic port may be provided on the front side of the first housing, and the second diagnostic port may be provided on the front side of the second housing.
Both the first diagnostic port and the second diagnostic port may be provided on the front side of the second housing.
Meanwhile, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in the form of a recording medium that stores instructions executable by a computer. The instructions may be stored in the form of program codes, and when executed by a processor, the instructions may create a program module to perform operations of the disclosed embodiments. The recording medium may be implemented as a computer-readable recording medium.
The computer-readable recording medium may include all kinds of recording media storing instructions that can be interpreted by a computer. For example, the computer-readable recording medium may be read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a magnetic tape, a magnetic disc, a flash memory, an optical data storage device, etc.
Also, the computer-readable recording medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium, wherein the term ‘non-transitory storage medium’ simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device, and does not include a signal (e.g., an electromagnetic wave), but this term does not differentiate between where data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and where the data is temporarily stored in the storage medium. For example, a ‘non-transitory storage medium’ may include a buffer in which data is temporarily stored.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method according to various embodiments of the disclosure may be included and provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded as a product between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloadable or uploadable) online via an application store (e.g., Play Store™) or between two user devices (e.g., smart phones) directly. When distributed online, at least part of the computer program product (e.g., a downloadable app) may be temporarily generated or at least temporarily stored in the machine-readable storage medium, such as a memory of the manufacturer's server, a server of the application store, or a relay server.
Although embodiments have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Therefore, embodiments have not been described for limiting purposes.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A clothes treating system, comprising:

a first clothes treating apparatus including:

a first drum;

a first controller configured to control an operation of the first drum; and

a diagnostic port connectable to a diagnostic terminal; and

a second clothes treating apparatus including:

a second drum; and

a second controller configured to control an operation of the second drum,

wherein:

the first controller includes:

a first transmitting end; and

a first receiving end; and

the first controller is configured to:

receive a first diagnosis request signal from the diagnostic port through the first receiving end;

identify a diagnosis target based on the received first diagnosis request signal;

in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the first clothes treating apparatus, perform a first diagnostic operation of the first clothes treating apparatus, and transmit a first diagnosis result signal including information about a result of the first diagnostic operation to the diagnostic port through the first transmitting end; and

in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the second clothes treating apparatus, transmit a second diagnosis request signal to the second controller through the first transmitting end.

2. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein:

the diagnostic port includes a receiving end and a transmitting end;

the second controller includes a second transmitting end and a second receiving end;

the first transmitting end is connected to the receiving end of the diagnostic port and the second receiving end; and

the first receiving end is connected to the transmitting end of the diagnostic port and the second transmitting end.

3. The clothes treating system of claim 2, wherein a signal output through the first transmitting end is transmitted to the diagnostic port and the second receiving end.

4. The clothes treating system of claim 2, further comprising:

a connection circuit board configured to connect the first controller and the second controller by wire,

wherein the first transmitting end is connected to the second receiving end through the connection circuit board, and

the first receiving end is connected to the second transmitting end through the connection circuit board.

5. The clothes treating system of claim 4, wherein the connection circuit board is configured to convert a signal received from the first transmitting end to be decodable by the second controller, and convert a signal received from the second transmitting end to be decodable by the first controller.

6. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein each of the first diagnosis result signal and the second diagnosis request signal includes identification information about a transmitter and identification information about a receiver.

7. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein the second controller is configured to, in response to receiving the second diagnosis request signal from the first controller, perform a second diagnostic operation of the second clothes treating apparatus, and transmit a second diagnosis result signal including information about a result of the second diagnostic operation to the first receiving end, and

in response to receiving the second diagnosis result signal from the second controller through the first receiving end, the first controller is configured to transmit the second diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic port.

8. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein the first controller is configured to perform communication with the second controller or the diagnostic terminal according to a preset communication sequence, in response to the diagnostic terminal being connected to the diagnostic port.

9. The clothes treating system of claim 8, wherein the preset communication sequence includes:

a first sequence in which the first transmitting end transmits a signal to the diagnostic terminal;

a second sequence in which the first receiving end receives a signal from the diagnostic terminal;

a third sequence in which the first transmitting end transmits a signal to the second controller; and

a fourth sequence in which the first receiving end receives a signal from the second controller.

10. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein the second controller is configured to ignore a signal output through the first transmitting end, in response to receiver identification information included in the signal output through the first transmitting end corresponding to the diagnostic terminal connected to the diagnostic port.

11. The clothes treating system of claim 4, wherein the connection circuit board is configured to ignore a signal output through the first transmitting end, in response to receiver identification information included in the signal output through the first transmitting end corresponding to the diagnostic terminal connected to the diagnostic port.

12. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein the first controller is configured to identify the diagnosis target as the first clothes treating apparatus, in response to receiver identification information included in the first diagnosis request signal corresponding to the first clothes treating apparatus, and

identify the diagnosis target as the second clothes treating apparatus, in response to the receiver identification information included in the first diagnosis request signal corresponding to the second clothes treating apparatus.

13. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein the first clothes treating apparatus includes a housing to accommodate the first drum, and a door formed on the housing to open or close an opening corresponding to the first drum, and

the diagnostic port is below the door.

14. The clothes treating system of claim 1, wherein the first clothes treating apparatus is a washing machine and the second clothes treating apparatus is a dryer.

15. A method of diagnosing a clothes treating system including a first clothes treating apparatus including a first drum, a first controller configured to control an operation of the first drum, and a diagnostic port connectable to a diagnostic terminal, and a second clothes treating apparatus including a second drum and a second controller configured to control an operation of the second drum, the method comprising:

receiving, by the first controller, a first diagnosis request signal from the diagnostic port through a first receiving end;

identifying, by the first controller, a diagnosis target based on the first diagnosis request signal;

in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the first clothes treating apparatus, performing a first diagnostic operation, and transmitting, by the first controller, a first diagnosis result signal including information about a result of the first diagnostic operation to the diagnostic port through a first transmitting end; and

in response to the diagnosis target being identified as the second clothes treating apparatus, transmitting, by the first controller, a second diagnosis request signal to the second controller through the first transmitting end.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to receiving the second diagnosis request signal from the first controller, performing a second diagnostic operation, and transmitting, by the second controller, a second diagnosis result signal including information about a result of the second diagnostic operation to the first receiving end to the first receiving end, and

in response to receiving the second diagnosis result signal from the second controller through the first receiving end, transmitting, by the first controller, the second diagnosis result signal to the diagnostic port.