AU2016385333B2 - Clothes treating apparatus - Google Patents

Clothes treating apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2016385333B2
AU2016385333B2 AU2016385333A AU2016385333A AU2016385333B2 AU 2016385333 B2 AU2016385333 B2 AU 2016385333B2 AU 2016385333 A AU2016385333 A AU 2016385333A AU 2016385333 A AU2016385333 A AU 2016385333A AU 2016385333 B2 AU2016385333 B2 AU 2016385333B2
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AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
output
touch screen
wash tub
function
door
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
AU2016385333A
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AU2016385333A1 (en
Inventor
Sujin Ahn
Kyunga Hong
Soyeon Ko
Jina Lee
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LG Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of AU2016385333A1 publication Critical patent/AU2016385333A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/28—Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
    • D06F34/32—Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/02—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
    • D06F37/04—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
    • D06F37/10—Doors; Securing means therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F37/28—Doors; Security means therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2101/00—User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2101/00—User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2101/20—Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/58—Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/58—Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
    • D06F2105/60—Audible signals
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/42—Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clothes treating apparatus having a touchscreen for displaying visual information. The clothes treating apparatus comprises: a first and second cabinet which form the outer shape thereof; a first wash tub which is provided in the first cabinet; a first door which is configured so as to open/close a clothes inlet on the first wash tub; a drawer housing which may be inserted into the second cabinet or drawn out from the second cabinet through an opening part formed on the front of the second cabinet; a second wash tub which is provided in the drawer housing; a second door which is configured so as to open/close a clothes inlet on the second wash tub; a touchscreen (251) which is provided on the first cabinet; and a control unit which controls the touchscreen so that a first graphic object and a second graphic object are outputted, the first graphic object being formed so as to have the first wash tub selected, and the second graphic object being formed so as to have the second wash tub selected.

Description

CLOTHES TREATING APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a clothes treating apparatus having a touch screen for displaying visual information.
BACKGROUND
A clothes treating apparatus includes an apparatus for washing clothes or laundry, an apparatus for drying clothes, and an apparatus for 10 washing and drying clothes together. In the clothes treating apparatus, washing clothes is a stroke of removing contaminants from the clothes through reaction between water and detergents, and drying clothes is a stroke of removing moisture contained in the clothes by use of a hot air supply device provided in the clothes treating apparatus.
A general clothes treating apparatus includes a main body defining appearance and having a clothes inlet, a clothes accommodating unit provided in the main body, a driving unit to rotate a drum constructing the clothes accommodating unit, a door to open and close the clothes inlet, and a control unit to provide visual information related to strokes processed in the clothes treating apparatus to the user and receiving a user operation.
In the clothes treating apparatus, the door is designed to perform its original function of opening and closing the clothes inlet and allowing the user to look into the clothes accommodating unit therethrough. In 25 addition, the control unit is usually provided in the main body, and is
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 provided with a plurality of buttons and knobs for briefly displaying only predetermined strokes in a power-on/off manner and operating the strokes.
This differentiation of the door and the control unit has spoiled simple appearance of the clothes treating apparatus, and input and output interfaces between the clothes treating apparatus and the user have no choice but to stay in a low dimensional manner.
Therefore, studies have been conducted to arrange the control unit on the door and implement the control unit in the form of a touch screen.
However, researches on a door structure that can bring out integrated feeling for the door and the touch screen and high sensibility with low cost are not actively undergoing yet.
In addition, as washing functions carried out in the clothes treating apparatus are diversified, there is a need for washing clothes to be 15 washed in a sorting manner according to a type of the clothes. For example, there is a user’s need to wash clothes to be washed by sorting into underwear and socks or on the color basis. However, since the general clothes treating apparatus has only one clothes accommodating unit to accommodate the clothes therein, there is inconvenience that the 20 clothes should be washed several times separately to solve the need.
In order to solve this inconvenience, research on one clothes treating apparatus having a plurality of wash tubs is undergoing, but research on a user interface for controlling such a plurality of wash tubs has not been actively conducted yet. Since a separate control unit is 25 provided for each wash tub, the user has to check each control unit
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 individually and input an individual control command. Therefore, a new type of user interface for controlling a plurality of wash tubs may be an important issue in terms of increasing user convenience.
Furthermore, there is a need of a clothes treating system which enables the user to perform such sortable washing even using a clothes treating apparatus, which the user already has, in consideration of costs. The user can construct a clothes treating system including a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses by arranging a new clothes treating apparatus in addition to the existing clothes treating apparatus belonging to the user. Even in this case, since a separate control unit is provided for each clothes treating apparatus, a new type of user interface for controlling the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses is required.
It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful 15 alternative.
SUMMARY
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a clothes treating apparatus, comprising:
first and second cabinets forming an outer shape;
a first wash tub provided in the first cabinet;
a first door to open and close a clothes inlet of the first wash tub;
a drawer housing drawn in or out of the second cabinet through an opening formed through the front of the second cabinet;
a second wash tub provided in the drawer housing;
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 a second door to open and close a clothes inlet of the second wash tub; a touch screen provided on the first cabinet; and a control unit to control the touch screen to output a first graphic object for selecting the first wash tub and a second graphic object for selecting the second graphic object, wherein the control unit is further configured to:
when a function using one of the first and second wash tubs is being executed, control the touch screen to output guidance information to guide a progress of the function using the one wash tub; and control the touch screen to output the first and second graphic objects when a preset user input is received while the guidance information is output.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Some embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a clothes treating apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1B is a conceptual view illustrating a state in which a first door illustrated in FIG. 1A is primarily rotated to open a clothes inlet.
FIG. 1C is a conceptual view illustrating a state in which the first door is secondarily rotated in the state illustrated in FIG. 1B.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first door illustrated in
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
FIG. 1A.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual view illustrating a second wash tub of the clothes treating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1A.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a representative control method in 5 accordance with the present disclosure.
FIGS. 5, 6A, 6B and 6C are exemplary views illustrating an example to which the control method of FIG. 4 is applied.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual view illustrating a clothes treating apparatus which displays first and second graphic objects in response to a user 10 input satisfying a preset condition.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a main washer and n sub washer in a clothes treating apparatus provided with the main washer and the sub washer.
FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D are conceptual views illustrating a method of outputting related information to a touch screen as a stroke is executed in at least one of the main washer and the sub washer.
FIGS. 10A and 10B are conceptual views illustrating a method of controlling a sound output of each clothes treating apparatus.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are conceptual views illustrating a method of controlling information output to the touch screen based on a user's behavior.
FIG. 12 is a conceptual view illustrating an operation related to a child lock function.
FIG. 13 is a conceptual view illustrating a method of pairing 25 (connecting) the main washer with the sub washer or unpairing them
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 (releasing the connection therebetween) based on a user input.
FIG. 14 is a conceptual view illustrating a clothes treating apparatus that can utilize a new washing function developed by a third party, in addition to a preset washing function.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a door structure of a clothes treating apparatus, capable of giving a user an integrated aesthetic feeling when a door is constructed by a window, through which 10 the user can look into a clothes accommodating unit, and a display for outputting information processed in the clothes treating apparatus.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a door structure of a clothes treating apparatus, capable of providing a circular display to a user by using a rectangular display.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a clothes treating apparatus, capable of controlling at least one of a plurality of wash tubs or a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses by using one display.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a new type of 20 user interface, capable of allowing a user to accurately and intuitively recognize one of a plurality of wash tubs or a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses to be controlled when the one is controlled using one display.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a user interface, capable of determining one wash tub (or one clothes treating 25 apparatus) which a user desires to use in an artificial-intelligence manner
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 based on a user’s behavior and allowing the one wash tub to be used immediately without a separate user input.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a clothes treating apparatus, capable of using a new washing function developed 5 by a third party as well as a washing function preset in the clothes treating apparatus.
To achieve these and other advantages of the present disclosure, there is provided a clothes treating apparatus, including first and second 10 cabinets forming an outer shape, a first wash tub provided in the first cabinet, a first door to open and close a clothes inlet of the first wash tub, a drawer housing drawn in or out of the second cabinet through an opening formed through the front of the second cabinet, a second wash tub provided in the drawer housing, a second door to open and close a 15 clothes inlet of the second wash tub, a touch screen provided on the first cabinet, and a control unit to control the touch screen to output a first graphic object for selecting the first wash tub and a second graphic object for selecting the second graphic object.
The first door may include a door frame rotatably coupled to the first cabinet, and a door cover coupled to the door frame to form an outer shape of the first door and having a light-transmitting region. The touch screen may be mounted on the door frame and output visual information through the light-transmitting region of the door cover.
The control unit may select one of the first and second wash tubs 25 when a touch is applied to one of the first and second graphic objects,
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 and control the touch screen to output icons associated with functions executable in the selected wash tub.
The control unit may control the touch screen to output icons included in a first group when the first wash tub is selected, and to output 5 icons included in a second group when the second wash tub is selected.
When icons included in one of the first and second groups are output, the control unit may restrict an output of icons included another group.
The control unit may control the touch screen such that the icons included in the first group disappear and the icons included in the second group appear when a touch is applied to the second graphic object while the icons included in the first group are displayed on the touch screen.
The second graphic object may be output together when the icons included in the first group are output, and the first graphic object may be 15 output together when the icons included in the second group are output.
A first image may be displayed on the touch screen and the icons included in the first group may be displayed on the first image when the first wash tub is selected, and a second image different from the first image may be output on the touch screen and the icons included in the 20 second group may be displayed on the second image when the second wash tub is selected.
The first wash tub may rotate centering on a first rotating shaft and the second wash tub may rotate centering on a second rotating shaft intersecting with the first rotating shaft.
Each of the icons included in the first group may be associated with
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 a function executable in the first wash tub according to characteristics of the first rotating shaft, and each of the icons included in the second group may be associated with a function executable in the second wash tub according to characteristics of the second rotating shaft.
The control unit may execute a function associated with a first icon using the first wash tub when a touch is applied to the first icon while the icons included in the first group are output, and execute a function associated with a second icon using the second wash tub when a touch is applied to the second icon while the icons included in the second group 10 are output.
When a function using one of the first and second wash tubs is being executed, the control unit may control the touch screen to output guidance information to guide a progress of the function using the one wash tub.
The control unit may control the touch screen to output the first and second graphic objects when a touch input satisfying a preset condition is applied to the touch screen while the guidance information is output.
The first and second graphic objects may be configured as transparent images, the guidance information may overlap the first and 20 second graphic objects, and a touch input applied to one of the first and second graphic objects may generate a control command for the one graphic object.
The control unit may output first guidance information in a first region of the touch screen to guide a progress of a first function and 25 second guidance information in a second region to guide a progress of a
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 second function when the first function using the first wash tub and the second function using the second wash tub are being executed.
The first region may output thereon a first virtual button to pause or restart the first function and the second region may output thereon a 5 second virtual button to pause or restart the second function.
The touch screen may be formed in a circular shape, and the control unit may count an expected completion time of the one wash tub when the function using the one wash tub is executed and control the touch screen to output an image gradually changing in size along an edge 10 of the touch screen based on the counted time.
The control unit may control the touch screen to output the icons included in the first group when the first door is switched from a first state to a second state due to an external force.
The first state may be an opened state in which the door opens a 15 clothes inlet and the second state may be a closed state in which the door closes the clothes inlet.
The control unit may control the touch screen to output the icons included in the second group when the second door is switched from the first state to the second state by an external force.
Effects of a clothes treating apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described as follows.
According to the present disclosure, an opaque region may be formed on a door cover, first and second light-transmitting regions may be 25 formed in an isolating manner within the opaque region, and a window
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 and a display (or a touch screen) may be provided in the first and second light-transmitting regions, respectively, thereby realizing a simple appearance of a door. In particular, when the first and second lighttransmitting regions are formed in a circular shape to correspond to a 5 circular door, a user can be provided with an integrated aesthetic feeling.
Further, when the second light-transmitting region is formed in a circular shape disposed within a rectangular display in an overlapping manner, visual information can be output only to a portion corresponding to the circular second light-transmitting region so as to provide a circular 10 display to the user. At this time, the control unit can control an output of visual information on a portion not corresponding to the second lighttransmitting region of the display, thereby saving power.
The effects obtained by the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly 15 understood from the following description by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.
Hereinafter, a clothes treating apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying 20 drawings.
A singular representation may include a plural representation unless it represents a definitely different meaning from the context.
It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not 25 be limited by these terms. These terms are generally only used to
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 distinguish one element from another.
The same or equivalent components may be provided with the same or similar reference numbers, even in different embodiments, and description thereof will not be repeated.
In describing the present disclosure, if a detailed explanation for a related known function or construction is considered to unnecessarily divert the gist of the present disclosure, such explanation has been omitted but would be understood by those skilled in the art.
The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand 10 the technical idea of the present disclosure and it should be understood that the idea of the present disclosure is not limited by the accompanying drawings. The idea of the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes besides the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a clothes treating apparatus 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are conceptual views illustrating states where a first door 120 illustrated in FIG. 1A is rotated primarily and secondarily, respectively, and thus a first clothes inlet 160a is open.
Referring to these drawings, the clothes treating apparatus 100 includes a first cabinet 110 and a first door 120.
The first cabinet 110 forms an outer shape of the clothes treating apparatus 100 and has a first clothes inlet 160a into which clothes is inserted. This embodiment illustrates that the first clothes inlet 160a is 25 formed through a front portion of the first cabinet 110 having a hexahedral
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 shape.
The first cabinet 110 is provided therein with a clothes accommodating unit for receiving clothes or laundry through the first clothes inlet 160a. The clothes accommodating unit may be referred to as 5 a 'wash tub'.
For example, when the clothes treating apparatus 100 of the present disclosure is configured as an apparatus for drying clothes, the clothes accommodating unit may be configured as a first drum 150 rotatably provided in the first cabinet 110.
As another example, when the clothes treating apparatus 100 of the present disclosure is configured as an apparatus by which washing and drying clothes are all carried out, the clothes accommodating unit may be provided with a tub (not illustrated) disposed in the first cabinet 110 to store washing water, and a first drum 150 rotatably disposed in the tub to accommodate clothes therein.
The first cabinet 110 is provided with a driving unit (not illustrated) to rotate the first drum 150. The driving unit may include a motor for generating a driving force and a belt for rotating the drum 150 using the driving force.
The first cabinet 110 may be provided with a detergent supply unit (not illustrated) configured in a drawer type to be drawn in and out of the first cabinet 110. A cover 112 covering the detergent supply unit may be configured to be rotatable up and down.
The first cabinet 110 may be provided with a power button 170 to power on/off the clothes treating apparatus 100. When a display 122,
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 which will be described later, is configured as a touch screen, the clothes treating apparatus 100 may be powered on/off through a touch input applied to the touch screen 122. In this case, the power button 170 is not provided, which may result in realizing simpler appearance of the clothes 5 treating apparatus.
The first door 120 is rotatably installed on the first cabinet 110 by a hinge unit 140 to open and close the first clothes inlet 160a. As illustrated, the first cabinet 110 may include a door accommodating portion 160b recessed inwardly from an outer surface thereof and having a first clothes 10 inlet 160a therein. When the first door 120 is closed, the first door 120 is accommodated in the first door accommodating portion 160b and an outer edge portion of the first door 120 may be flush with an outer surface of the first cabinet 110.
In order to prevent the first door 120 from being stopped by the first cabinet 110 when the first door 120 is opened due to the structure in which the first door 120 is accommodated in the first door accommodating portion 160b, the hinge unit 140 may have a double hinge structure having two different rotating axes. In this case, as illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the first door 120 may be spaced apart from the first door 20 accommodating portion 160b by a primary rotation centering on one of the rotating axes, and then rotated by a secondary rotation centering on the other rotating axis.
In the structure in which the hinge unit 140 is mounted on one side of the first door 120, a locking device for fixing or locking the first door 120 25 to the first cabinet 110 or releasing or unlocking the fixed/locked first door
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
120 is provided on another side of the first door 120. The locking device may be configured in a pressing manner, so that the first door 120 is locked when the another side of the first door 120 is pressed once and unlocked when the another side of the first door 120 is pressed once 5 again.
The first door 120 is provided with a window 121 and a display 122.
When the first door 120 is closed, the window 121 is arranged to correspond to the first clothes inlet 160a so that the user can look inside the clothes accommodating unit therethrough. Accordingly, the user can 10 check the state of the clothes accommodated in the clothes accommodating unit through the window 121.
The display 122 displays (outputs) information processed in the clothes treating apparatus 100. For example, the display 122 may display execution screen information of strokes (washing, dehydrating, drying, 15 etc.) carried out in the clothes treating apparatus 100, or Ul (User Interface) and GUI (Graphic User Interface) information corresponding to the execution screen information.
Hereinafter, a detailed structure of the first door 120 will be described.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first door 120 illustrated in FIG. 1A.
Referring to FIG. 2, the first door 120 includes a door frame 130, a door window 136, a display module 128, and a door cover 190. As described above, the hinge unit 140 for coupling the first door 120 to the 25 first cabinet 110 is mounted on the first door 120, but the hinge unit 140 is
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 omitted in this drawing.
This embodiment illustrates that the first door 120 is formed in a circular shape (including a perfect circular shape and an elliptical shape). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first door 120 5 may be formed in a polygonal shape (square, hexagon, etc.).
The door frame 130 is rotatably coupled to the first cabinet 110. To this end, the hinge unit 140 is coupled to the door frame 130 and the first cabinet 110, respectively.
As illustrated, the door frame 130 may include an outer frame 131 and an inner frame 132. The outer frame 131 and the inner frame 132 may be formed of a synthetic resin material (for example, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material, a polycarbonates (PC) material, or the like).
For reference, the reason why the aforementioned components are referred to as the outer frame 131 and the inner frame 132 is that the outer frame 131 faces the outside of the first cabinet 110 and the inner frame 132 faces the inside of the first cabinet 110 when only the door frame 130 is considered in the closed state of the first door 120. Without this distinction, the outer frame 131 and the inner frame 132 may also be referred to as a first frame and a second frame, respectively.
The door frame 130 includes a first opening part 130a facing the first clothes inlet 160a in the closed state of the first door 120, and a second opening part 131b corresponding to a display module 128 mounted inside thereof. The first opening part 130a may also be referred 25 to as a door window hole in that the door window 136 is provided in the
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 first opening part 130a and the second opening part 131b may also be referred to as a display hole in that the display module 128 is provided in the second opening part 131b. The second opening part 131b may be located above the first opening part 130a.
The first opening part 130a may include a front opening 131a formed at the outer frame 131 and a rear opening 132a formed at the inner frame 132. The second opening part 131b is formed at the outer frame 131. A communication portion 132b may be formed on the rear opening 132a of the inner frame 132 and the display module 128 may be 10 mounted inside the door frame 130 through the communication portion 132b.
The door window 136 is installed on the door frame 130 to correspond to the first opening part 130a. The door window 136 is formed of a transparent material such as glass or synthetic resin and arranged to 15 correspond to the first clothes inlet 160a in the closed state of the first door 120.
The display module 128 is installed inside the door frame 130. The display module 128 is arranged to correspond to the second opening part 131b. Visual information related to information processed in the clothes 20 treating apparatus 100 is output on the display 122 provided on the display module 128.
A door cover 190, which defines outer appearance of the first door 120, is coupled to the door frame 130. The door cover 190 may be made of a light-transmitting glass material or a synthetic resin material.
The door cover 190 includes an opaque region 193, and a first
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 light-transmitting region 191 corresponding to the first opening part 130a and a second light-transmitting region 192 corresponding to the second opening part 131b within the opaque region 193. The first and second light-transmitting regions 191 and 192 are separated from each other by 5 the opaque region 193. In this embodiment, the door frame 130 and the door cover 190 are formed in a circular shape so as to correspond to the circular first door 120, and the first and second light-transmitting regions 191 and 192 are formed in a circular shape to provide an integrated aesthetic feeling to the user.
According to the present disclosure, a door cover can be provided with an opaque region, and first and second light-transmitting regions that are separated from each other in the opaque region, and a window and a display (or the touch screen) can be provided in the first and second lighttransmitting regions, respectively, to implement simple door appearance.
In particular, when the first and second light-transmitting regions are formed in the circular shape so as to correspond to the circular door, the user can be provided with an integrated aesthetic feeling.
The door cover 190 may have at least one portion in a bent shape.
For example, by the bent portion, a first cover portion and a second cover 20 portion on both sides of the bent portion may be inclined relative to each other. Here, the first cover portion and the second cover portion are formed in a flat shape. In order to correspond to the door cover 190, the door frame 130 may also have at least one portion in a bent shape.
In this embodiment, the first light-transmitting region 191 is formed 25 over the first cover portion and the bent portion, and the second light19
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 transmitting region 192 is formed at the second cover portion.
On the other hand, the second light-transmitting region 192 is formed to be smaller than the second opening part 131b so that the door cover 190 overlaps the second opening part 131b when the door cover 5 130 is coupled to the doorframe 130.
As illustrated, the second opening part 131b may be formed in a rectangular shape corresponding to the rectangular display module 128, and the second light-transmitting region 192 may formed in a circular shape to be overlapped within the second opening part 131b. With the 10 above configuration, visual information can be output only through a portion corresponding to the circular second light-transmitting portion 192, and accordingly the user can be provided with the circular display 122.
A circular display requires a higher price than a generally used rectangular display, and is difficult to be installed at an accurate position 15 due to its shape, resulting in frequently causing assembly defects. However, according to the structure, the user may be provided with a touch screen 122, which requires a less cost and is seen as a circular shape to the user while using a rectangular display which can be assembled to an accurate position.
Since the second light-transmitting region 192 is surrounded by the opaque region 193, visual information output on a portion of the touch screen 122, which does not correspond to the second light-transmitting region 192, is not visible to the user. In view of this, the visual information may not be output to the portion of the touch screen 122 that does not 25 correspond to the second light-transmitting region 192.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
For example, in a state in which visual information related to information processed in the clothes treating apparatus 100 is output to the portion of the touch screen 122 corresponding to the second lighttransmitting region 192, an outer image surrounding the visual information 5 may be output to the portion which does not correspond to the second light-transmitting region 192. The outer image may be the portion which does not correspond to the second light-transmitting region 192 and may be filled with a specific color (for example, black).
As another example, in a state in which visual information related to information processed in the clothes treating apparatus 100 is output to a portion of the display 122 corresponding to the second light-transmitting region 192, the portion which does not correspond to the second lighttransmitting region 192 may be turned off. That is, neither the outer image nor the visual information is output to the portion of the display module
128 that does not correspond to the second light-transmitting region 192.
In this example, since only a part of the display 122 is driven, the display 122 can be efficiently driven, as compared with the foregoing example in which the entire display 122 is driven, thereby achieving a power saving effect.
The display 122 provided on the door cover 190 may be interlayered or integrated with a touch sensor (not illustrated), thereby implementing the touch screen 122. The touch screen 122 may function as a user input unit for providing an input interface between the clothes treating apparatus 100 and the user and simultaneously provide an output interface between the clothes treating apparatus 100 and the user. For
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 example, selection and change of an operation mode for performing several strokes such as washing, dehydrating, drying, and the like may be realized by a user’s touch input (or touch) applied to the display 122.
The touch screen 122 is provided with a touch sensor for sensing a 5 touch input.
The touch sensor detects a touch input applied to the touch screen 122 using at least one of various touch methods such as a resistance film type, a capacitive type, an infrared type, an ultrasonic type, a magnetic field type, and the like.
As an example, the touch sensor may be configured to convert a change in pressure applied to a specific portion of the touch screen 122 or a capacitance generated in the specific portion to an electrical input signal. The touch sensor may be configured to detect position, area, pressure of a touch applied to the touch screen 122 by a touch object by which such touch is applied to the touch screen 122. Here, the touch object may be an object applying a touch to the touch screen 122, and examples of the touch object may include a finger, a touch pen, a stylus pen, a pointer, or the like.
Thus, if a touch input is applied to the touch screen 122, a signal(s) corresponding to the touch input is transmitted to a controller. The controller processes the signal (s) and transmits data corresponding to the processed signal to the controller (not illustrated). Thus, the controller can know which region of the touch screen 122 has been touched. Here, the controller may be a separate component from the control unit or may 25 be the control unit itself.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
Meanwhile, the control unit may perform a different control or the same control according to a type of touch object applying a touch to the touch screen 122. Whether to perform a different control or the same control according to the type of touch object may be determined 5 according to an operating state of the clothes treating apparatus 100 or a currently-executed application program.
The touch screen 122 may sense various type of touch inputs, such as a short touch, a long touch, a multi touch, a drag touch, a flick touch, a pinch-in touch, a pinch-out touch, a swipe touch, a hovering touch, and 10 the like.
The touch screen 122 is configured to sense a touch input applied to a sensing area including the second light-transmitting region 192.
This embodiment illustrates that the touch screen 122 is attached on the rear surface of the door cover 190 so as to cover the second light15 transmitting region 192 and a part of the opaque region 193 surrounding the second light-transmitting region 192. With the configuration, the sensing area of the touch screen 122 includes not only the second lighttransmitting region 192 but also the part of the opaque region 193 surrounding the second light-transmitting region 192. Accordingly, various 20 Uls or GUIs using the part of the opaque region 193 surrounding the second light-transmitting region 192 can be provided.
In this structure, the touch sensor may be formed in the form of a touch film having a touch pattern, and may be disposed between the door cover 190 and the display module 128. The touch film may be made of a 25 transparent conductive film, and well-known ITO film (Indium-Tin Oxide
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 film) or CNT film (Carbon Nano Tube film) can be used as the touch film.
The touch film may be configured by one or two layers. For example, in the case of the type in which the touch film is composed of two layers [Glass-Film-Film (GFF)], the touch film may be attached to the 5 rear surface of the door cover 190 or attached on the display module 128.
As another example, in the case of the type in which the touch film is composed of one layer [Glass-Film (GIF)], the touch film may be attached to the rear surface of the door cover 190 to be formed integrally with the door cover 190.
The touch sensor may also be formed in the form in which a metal wire is directly patterned on the rear surface of the door cover 190, without a separate touch film.
Alternatively, the touch sensor may be formed integrally with the display provided on the display module 128. For example, the touch 15 sensor may be disposed on a substrate of the display (on-cell type) or in the display (in-cell type).
On the other hand, the present disclosure can also be applied to a case where the touch screen 122 is arranged at another position other than the first door 120, as well as the case where the touch screen 122 is 20 provided at the first door 120. For example, the touch screen 122 may be provided on one surface of the first cabinet 110, and the one surface may correspond to a surface where the power button 170 is disposed on the first cabinet 110. However, for convenience of explanation, the case where the touch screen 122 is provided at the first door 120 is described 25 as an example, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
Meanwhile, the clothes treating apparatus 100 may include a plurality of wash tubs, and perform input/output with respect to at least one of the plurality of wash tubs using the touch screen 122.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual view illustrating a second wash tub in the 5 clothes treating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1A.
The clothes treating apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure may include a main washer 200 and a sub washer 300. The sub washer 300 may be installed at one side of or below the main washer 200. The main washer 200 may include a first cabinet 210 forming an 10 outer shape of the main washer 200. The sub washer 300 may include a second cabinet 310 forming an outer shape of the sub washer 300. At this time, the first cabinet 210 and the second cabinet 310 may be integrally formed with each other.
The main washer 200 may include a first main body 210 forming an 15 outer shape, a first wash tub 260 provided in the first main body, a first door 220 opening and closing the first wash tub, a touch screen 222 and a window 221 provided on the first door 220, a first output unit 240, a first communication unit 250, a power button 270, a first control unit 280, and the like. Those components illustrated in FIG. 3 are not essential for 20 implementing the main washer 200, and the main washer may include fewer or greater components than the components listed above.
Meanwhile, the sub washer 300 includes a second wash tub 360 different from the first wash tub 260.
The sub washer 300 may exist in various forms. For example, 25 referring to FIG. 3, the sub washer 200 may be configured as a top25
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 loading type washing machine. The main washer 200 may be a washing machine in which the first wash tub 260 rotates centering on a first rotating shaft, while the sub washer 300 may be a washing machine in which the second wash tub 360 rotates centering on a second rotating shaft intersecting with the first rotating shaft. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the sub washer 300 may have the same structure as the main washer 200 or may be modified into various structures not illustrated in the drawings.
The sub washer 300 may be configured in a manner that at least one of a washing capacity, a volume, and a height thereof is smaller than that of the main washer 200. Accordingly, the user can selectively use at least one of the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 according to an amount of laundry. In addition, the user may select at least one of the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 according to a type of laundry.
For example, it is necessary to separately wash baby clothes, underwear, etc., or a small amount of laundry may be washed using the sub washer 300 and other washing may be carried out by using the main washer 200.
The sub washer 300 includes a second main body 310 forming an outer appearance, a drawer housing 330 which can be drawn into or out 20 of the second main body 310, and a second wash tub 360 provided inside the drawer housing 330.
The drawer housing 330 may be drawn into the second main body 310 or drawn out of the second main body 310 through an opening 312 formed through the second main body 310 toward the front of the sub 25 washer 300.
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The second wash tub 360 may be rotated by a second motor provided outside the second wash tub 360 within the drawer housing 330.
A cover panel 331 may be provided on the front of the drawer housing 330. The cover panel 331 may be integrally formed with the drawer housing 330. The cover panel 331 may be provided with a handle 332 for drawing in and out the drawer housing 330. A control panel 370 for operating the sub washer 300 may be provided on an upper surface of the cover panel 331.
A supply hole 365 through which washing water is supplied into the second wash tub 360 and a second door 363 through which laundry is inserted into or taken out of the second wash tub 360 may be provided on a top of the drawer housing 330. A handle 364 for opening the second door 363 in a pulling manner may be provided on one side of the second door 363.
On the other hand, the output units 240 and 340 included in the main and sub washers 200 and 300, respectively, may generate a visual, auditory, or tactile output and may include at least one of a display, a sound output unit, a haptic module, and an optical output module. For example, when a first stroke is completed in the main washer 200, a notification sound notifying the end of the first stroke may be output through the first output unit 240. When a second stroke is completed in the sub washer 300, a notification sound notifying the end of the second stroke may be output through the second output unit 340.
The first and second communication units 250 and 350 serve as a path for connecting (or pairing) the main and sub washers 200 and 300
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 with each other in a wired/wireless manner. The main washer 200 may perform an appropriate control related to the sub washer 300, in response to being connected to (paired with) the sub washer 300.
The first and second control units 280 and 380 perform operations related to a plurality of application programs (or applications) driven in the respective wash tubs. For example, the first control unit 280 performs operations related to the main washer 200, and the second control unit 380 performs operations related to the sub washer 300.
On the other hand, in the clothes treating apparatus 100 according 10 to the present disclosure, the first and second control units 280 and 380 are integrally formed with each other so as to typically control an overall operation of the clothes treating apparatus 100 in addition the operations related to the main and sub washers 200 and 300. The control units may provide or process appropriate information or functions to the user by 15 processing signals, data, information and the like input/output through those components or driving application programs stored in the memory.
Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the first and second control units 280 and 380 perform operations related to the clothes treating apparatus 100 while performing communication with each 20 other. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and may also be applicable to a case where one control unit performs the operations of the first and second control units.
Meanwhile, the sub washer 300 is located within a predetermined distance from the main washer 200. The predetermined distance is a 25 distance at which the main and sub washers 200 and 300 can perform
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 mutual wireless communication, and may differ according to a communication method.
For example, for convenience of the user who uses the main washer 200, the sub washer 300 may be located below the main washer 5 200. That is, the sub washer 300 may make the main washer 200 installed at a higher position so as to facilitate the user to use the main washer 200.
When the sub washer 300 is positioned below the main washer 200, the user must operate the control panel 370 by having her/his back bent 10 or in a squatting position. In order to solve this inconvenience, the clothes treating apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure may include a user interface for controlling at least one of the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 using the touch screen 222 provided at the main washer 200. In other words, the main washer 200 may output on the touch screen 15 222 a graphic interface for controlling the sub washer 300 depending on whether it is connected to the sub washer 300.
Hereinafter, a detailed operation of the clothes treating apparatus
100 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a representative control method in 20 accordance with the present disclosure.
First, the first control unit 280 of the main washer 200 determines whether the main washer 200 is connected to the sub washer 300 (S410).
The main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 may be connected to or disconnected from each other according to a user's request. When 25 the connection is established, a control is performed by the first control
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 unit 280 in the clothes treating apparatus 100. When the connection is released, the main washer 200 is controlled by the first control unit 280 and the sub washer 300 is separately controlled by the second control unit 380.
Meanwhile, the sub washer 300 may be connected to the main washer 200 through a cable in a wired manner or wirelessly connected to the main washer 200 by a wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or the like. The main washer 200 includes a first communication unit 250 and the sub washer 300 includes a second 10 communication unit 350. The main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 may be connected to each other by the first and second communication units 250 and 350. The first and second control units 280 and 380 may determine whether or not they are connected to each other.
The first control unit 280 controls the touch screen 222 to output visual information. The first control unit 280 controls the touch screen 222 to output different information according to whether or not the sub washer 300 has been connected.
The first control unit 280 may determine periodically or nonperiodically whether or not the main washer is connected with the sub 20 washer 300, so that different information can be output according to the connection or disconnection. For example, the connection or disconnection may be periodically determined when the touch screen 222 is turned on. As another example, the connection or disconnection may also be determined non-periodically when a preset event occurs, such as 25 when the main washer 200 which has been separated from the sub
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 washer 300 is connected to the sub washer 300, when the main washer in a standby state is activated, or when the main washer 200 in an off state is turned on.
The different information output to the touch screen 222 depending on the connection or disconnection is related to a user interface that enables input and output between at least one of the main washer and the sub washer 200 and 300 and the user.
The main washer 200 provides a first user interface for enabling input and output with respect to the user when the connection with the 10 sub washer 300 is not established (or the connection with the sub washer is released).
The first user interface includes icons (or icons included in a first group) associated with strokes such as washing, dehydrating, drying, etc. driven in the main washer 200.
In other words, if the connection to the sub washer 300 is not established, the first control unit 280 outputs icons associated with functions that can be executed using the first wash tub 260 to the touch screen 222 (S430). The icons included in the first group are displayed while the touch screen 222 is turned on.
When a touch is applied to an icon while the icons included in the first group are being output, the first control unit 280 executes a function associated with the touched icon by using the first wash tub 260.
Meanwhile, when the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 are connected, the main washer 200 may provide a second user interface 25 for enabling input and output between the sub washer 300 and the user.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
The second user interface includes icons (or icons included in a second group) associated with strokes such as washing, dehydrating, drying, etc. driven in the sub washer 300.
The first control unit 280 may selectively output any one of the first and second user interfaces. This may selectively output one of the first and second user interfaces. The touch screen 222 is limited in size to display both the first and second user interfaces. If both of the first and second user interfaces are displayed, it is difficult to find an icon to be used among many icons displayed on the touch screen.
To this end, when the connection with the sub washer 300 is established, the first control unit 280 controls the touch screen 222 to output a first graphic object for selecting the first wash tub 260 and a second graphic object for selecting the second wash tub 360 (S450).
Next, the first control unit 280 may sense a touch applied to one of 15 the first and second graphic objects (S470) and output icons associated with functions, which are executable using one of the first and second wash tubs 260 and 360, based on the sensed touch (S490).
More specifically, when a touch is applied to any one of the first and second graphic objects, the first control unit 280 selects one of the 20 first and second wash tubs and controls the touch screen 222 to output icons associated with functions that the selected wash tub can execute. That is, one of the first and second user interfaces may be selectively output by a user input. As described above, since one of a plurality of user interfaces configured to control different clothes processing 25 apparatuses is selectively output, a touch screen with a small screen can
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 be efficiently used and the user can conveniently select an interface to use.
For example, the icons included in the first group are output when a touch is applied to the first graphic object, and the icons included in the 5 second group are output when a touch is applied to the second graphic object. The icons included in the first group or the icons included in the second group are selectively output based on the sensed touch.
When a touch is applied to an icon while the icons included in the first group are being output, the first control unit 280 executes a function 10 associated with the touched icon by using the first wash tub 260.
Alternatively, when a touch is applied to an icon while the icons included in the second group are being output, the first control unit 280 transmits a control command so that a function associated with the touched icon is executed in the sub washer 300.
More specifically, when a touch is applied to one icon included in the second group, the first control unit 280 transmits a wash command corresponding to a function associated with the touched icon to the sub washer 300 having the second wash tub 360 such that the function can be executed in the sub washer 300. In this case, the sub washer 300 performs the function corresponding to the transmitted control command using the second wash tub 360.
Although not illustrated, the connection between the main and sub washers 200 and 300 may be released while the first and second graphic objects are displayed. In this case, the first control unit 280 controls the 25 touch screen 222 such that the first and second graphic objects disappear
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 and the icons included in the first group appear.
According to this embodiment, since the user can control a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses using an interface provided in a specific clothes treating apparatus, the problem that control units provided in the 5 respective clothes treating apparatuses have to be individually used can be solved.
The control method related to the present disclosure described above may be embodied in various forms as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 11. Hereinafter, in the following embodiments, the same or similar reference 10 numerals are given to the same or similar components as those of the foregoing embodiment, and the description is replaced with the first explanation.
FIGS. 5, 6A, 6B and 6C are exemplary views illustrating examples to which the control method of FIG. 4 is applied.
As one example of such control, referring to FIG. 5, when the display of the touch screen 222 in an off state is turned on, different information is output to the touch screen 222 depending on whether or not the connection with the sub washer 300 has been established.
For example, when the display of the touch screen 222 is turned on in the state where the connection with the sub washer 300 is not established, a main washer control screen 510 is displayed on the touch screen 222. The main washer control screen 510 includes the icons included in the first group as the icons associated with functions that can be executed using the first wash tub 260. The icons included in the first group are associated with functions of executing strokes such as washing,
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 dehydrating, drying, and the like using the first wash tub.
When one of the icons is selected by a touch, the selected icon 512 is highlighted to be distinguished from the other icons which have not been selected.
This drawing illustrates an example in which the icons included in the first group are circularly arranged along an outer circumferential surface of the touch screen 222. Information 514 describing functions associated with the selected icon 512 may be displayed at a center of the touch screen 222 in the form of images, text, and moving images. For 10 example, when a first icon is selected, a description related to the first icon may be displayed at a central area of the touch screen 222. Thereafter, when a second icon is selected, the description related to the first icon is switched to a description related to the second icon.
According to this example, the user can check various icons at a glance by the icons arranged circularly along the outer circumferential surface of the circular display. In addition, since a description of a different icon is displayed at the central area of the touch screen 222 according to a touch while icons are kept displayed, the user can get desired information effectively without a great change of displayed 20 information. In other words, a new type of user interface optimized for the circular display can be provided.
The main washer control screen 510 may include a virtual operation button 516 for causing the first wash tub 260 to execute a function associated with the selected icon 512. When a second touch is 25 applied to the virtual operation button 516 in a state in which one icon is
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 selected by a first touch, a function associated with the selected icon is executed.
If the number of icons included in the first group is greater than a predetermined number, the main washer control screen 510 may include 5 a plurality of pages, and each of the pages may include different icons.
When a touch input that continuously moves from a first point to a second point is applied while one of the pages is being output, the first control unit 280 may switch the one page to another page based on the touch input. The another page may differ according to a moving direction 10 of the touch input.
The user can confirm an output associated with the main washer using information included in the main washer control screen 510 and input a control command related to the main washer.
Meanwhile, when the display of the touch screen 222 is turned on 15 in a connected state with the sub washer 300, a first graphic object 520 and a second graphic object 522 are displayed on the touch screen 222.
The display positions of the first and second graphic objects 520 and 522 may vary depending on the arrangement of the main and sub washers 200 and 300. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the sub 20 washer 300 is disposed below the main washer 200, the first graphic object 520 is displayed relatively higher than the second graphic object 522. This allows the user to intuitively recognize which clothes treating apparatus each graphic object is associated with.
As an example of another control, referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, as 25 a touch is applied to one of the first and second graphic objects 520 and
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
522, icons of a group corresponding to the one graphic object may be output to the touch screen 222.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, when a touch is applied to the first graphic object 520, the main washer control screen 510 is displayed on the touch screen 222 and accordingly the icons included in the first group are displayed.
Here, the icons included in the first group are related to functions executed by the first wash tub 260 provided in the main washer 200.
Different icons may be included in the first group depending on the characteristics of the first wash tub 260. For example, the functions to be executable using the first wash tub may vary according to a size of the wash tub, a rotating shaft of the wash tub, and presence or absence of a heater for heating water introduced into the wash tub up to a predetermined temperature, and thus the icons included in the first group also change. That is, the icons included in the first group vary depending on the type of the main washer 200.
On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, when a touch is applied to the second graphic object 522, a sub washer control screen 610 is displayed on the touch screen 222 and thus the icons included in the second group are displayed.
Here, the icons included in the second group are associated with functions executable using the second wash tub 360 provided in the sub washer 300. The icons included in the second group also change depending on the characteristics of the second wash tub (or the type of 25 the sub washer). If the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 are the
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 same product, the first and second groups include the same icons.
The first control unit 280 may receive the icons included in the second group from the sub washer 300 and may generate the sub washer control screen 610 using the received icons. Alternatively, a group 5 corresponding to the sub washer 300 of a plurality of groups stored in the memory may be determined as a second group, or icons corresponding to the sub washer 300 may be downloaded from a preset server into the memory so as to set a second group using the downloaded icons.
As a result, the icons included in the first group or the icons included in the second group are selectively output according to a user input. When the icons included in one of the first and second groups are output, the output of the icons included in the other group is limited.
Meanwhile, the main washer control screen 510 and the sub washer control screen 610 may commonly include the same icons.
As an example, the virtual operation button 516 may be commonly included. However, the virtual button included in the main washer control screen 510 causes the first wash tub 260 to be operate or paused, and the virtual button included in the sub washer control screen 610 causes the second wash tub 260 to be operated or paused. That is, even for the 20 icons with the same shape, the functions associated with the icons may be related to different wash tubs.
As another example, a virtual setup button 630 may be commonly included. The virtual setup button 630 may be displayed together on the touch screen 222 irrespective of that any of the main washer control 25 screen 510 and the sub washer control screen 610 is displayed. When a
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 touch is applied to the virtual setup button 630, a setting screen (not illustrated) is displayed on the touch screen 222.
On the other hand, when the icons included in the first group are output, a first background image is displayed on the touch screen 222 5 and the icons included in the first group are displayed on the first background image.
On the other hand, when the icons included in the second group are output, the touch screen 222 displays a second background image different from the first background image and the icons included in the 10 second group are displayed on the second background image. The second background image refers to an image having a different shape, color, or the like from that of the first background image.
For example, the first background image may be an image filled with black, and the second background image may be an image filled with 15 white.
Likewise, a background of the first graphic object 520 may be set to an image filled with black, and a background of the second graphic object 522 may be set to an image filled with white. Since the background images of the graphic objects and the control screens have the same or 20 similar color, the user can intuitively recognize which group of icons are being displayed on the touch screen 222 or which wash tub has been selected.
In order to more clearly notify the selected wash tub, the first and second background images may further include text, moving images, 25 codes, etc. corresponding to the respective wash tubs. In one example, a
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 first image may include the name of the main washer 200, and a second image may include the name of the sub washer 300.
Meanwhile, the first and second graphic objects may be modified into various forms according to embodiments. The first graphic object 5 may be defined as a function of displaying the icons included in the first group (or the main washer control screen), and the second graphic object may be defined as a function of displaying the icons included in the second group (or the sub washer control screen). When the definitions are satisfied, any shape of graphic object may correspond to the first 10 graphic object or the second graphic object.
Referring to FIG. 6C, when the main washer control screen 510 is output, the second graphic object 620 may be displayed together. In other words, the main washer control screen 510 may include the second graphic object 620.
In this case, the second graphic object 620 indicates that a currently-output screen is the main washer control screen 510. When a touch is applied to the second graphic object 620, the first control unit switches the main washer control screen 510 to the sub washer control screen 610. That is, the icons included in the first group may disappear 20 and the icons included in the second group may appear.
Alternatively, the sub washer control screen 610 may include the first graphic object 622. When the first graphic object 622 indicates that a currently-output screen is the sub washer control screen 610. When a touch is applied to the first graphic object 622, the sub washer control 25 screen 610 is switched to the main washer control screen 510.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
Meanwhile, the first and second graphic objects may be displayed on the touch screen 222 by a user input which satisfies a preset condition.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual view illustrating a clothes treating apparatus in which first and second graphic objects are displayed in response to a 5 user input satisfying a preset condition.
The first control unit 180 may output the first and second graphic objects as long as a user input satisfying a preset condition is input regardless of information displayed on the touch screen 222.
For example, the user input satisfying the preset condition may be 10 a touch input that starts in a predetermined area of the touch screen 222 and moves in a preset direction.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when a touch input starting from a 12 o'clock position of the touch screen 222 and moving to a 6 o'clock position is input, an animation effect that a curtain window 710 covering a previously-output screen comes down from a top to bottom of the touch screen 222 may be generated.
The curtain window 710 includes first and second graphic objects 720 and 722. The first and second graphic objects 720 and 722 may be transparent images and displayed in a manner of overlapping the previously-output screen. In this case, even though at least part of the previously-output screen appears, a touch input to the curtain window 710 may be defined as a control command for the curtain window 710.
When a touch is applied to a mark X included in the curtain window 710, the curtain window 710 disappears and the previously-output screen 25 appears. According to such a driving method, the user can make the first
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 and second graphic objects 720 and 722 appear or disappear as needed, thereby implementing a simple user interface. In addition, since the first and second graphic objects 720 and 722 do not have to be always displayed on the touch screen 222, more portions of the touch screen can 5 be secured to display information.
Further, the curtain window 710 may further include state information related to the clothes treating apparatus. The state information may include at least one of wireless communication on/off information, sound on/off information, child lock on/off information, 10 information on a set function, and remote control on/off information. The user can simply check whether a function related to setting of the clothes treating apparatus is turned on or off, and also can easily turn on or off a specific function using turn-on/off information.
Meanwhile, the user input satisfying the preset condition may be 15 variously modified according to embodiments. For example, the first and second graphic objects may be displayed when a touch input of tapping an empty space without a graphic object associated with a control function consecutively plural number of times is applied. In another example, when a touch input of tapping a predetermined area of the 20 touch screen in an off state consecutively plural number of times is applied, the touch screen may be turned on and the first and second graphic objects may be displayed. For this purpose, the touch sensor of the touch screen may be turned on to detect a touch while the display of the touch screen is in an off state.
Hereinafter, description will be given in detail of operations of each
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 of the main washer and the sub washer in the clothes treating apparatus 100 including the main washer and the sub washer.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a main washer and a sub washer in a clothes treating apparatus including the main washer and 5 the sub washer.
The clothes treating apparatus 100 includes a main washer 200 and a sub washer 300. The main washer 200 outputs at least one of a first user interface for performing input/output of the main washer 200 and a second user interface for performing input/output of the sub washer 300 10 through a touch screen 222. Accordingly, the main washer 200 operates as a master device that generates a control command according to a user input and the sub washer 300 operates as a slave device which performs a function according to the control command generated in the master device. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the main washer 200 is operated 15 by a first control unit 280 and the sub washer 300 is operated by a second control unit 380.
First, the first control unit 280 controls the touch screen 222 to output the icons included in the second group (S810). Since the method of outputting the icons included in the second group has been described 20 above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
Next, a touch applied to any one of the icons included in the second group is sensed (S820), and a wash command corresponding to a function associated with the touched icon is transmitted to the sub washer 300 (S830). For example, when a touch is applied to a first icon 25 associated with a first function, a wash command corresponding to the
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 first function may be transmitted. On the other hand, when a touch is applied to a second icon associated with a second function, a wash command corresponding to the second function may be transmitted. That is, the wash command depends on the icon to which the touch is applied.
The wash command may include a wakeup signal for turning on the sub washer 300 so that the function corresponding to the wash command can be executed even when the sub washer 300 is in an off state. That is, the sub washer 300 may be powered on by the wash command.
Meanwhile, the second control unit 380 determines whether the function corresponding to the wash command can be executed, in response to the transmitted wash command (S840). For example, when a clothes inlet through which clothes is introduced and drawn out is not closed by a second door 363, the second control unit 380 may determine it as a non-washable (washing-unavailable) state. In addition, the non15 washable state may correspond to a case where the function corresponding to the wash command cannot be executed because another stroke is already being executed, a case where the function corresponding to the wash command is a function which cannot be executed because it is not suitable for the characteristic of the sub washer 300, a case where the clothes is not contained in a second wash tub 360 as much as being required by the function corresponding to the wash command, and the like.
When it is determined as the non-washable state, the second control unit 380 transmits a non-washable message to the main washer 25 200 (S850). The non-washable message may include the reason why the
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 determination as the non-washable state has been made.
The first control unit 280 outputs notification information notifying that washing cannot be executed, in response to the non-washable message (S852). More specifically, notification information warning that 5 the function associated with the touch-applied icon cannot be executed in the sub washer 300 may be output in at least one of visual, auditory, and tactile manners.
The notification information may include the reason why the determination as the non-washable state has been made. For example, 10 when washing cannot be executed because the second door 363 is opened, the notification information may include a message such as “Close the door of the sub washer”.
Otherwise, when it is determined as a washable state, the second control unit 380 executes the function corresponding to the wash 15 command and transmits a progress message to the main washer 200 to notify a progress (S860).
For example, when a first function including a plurality of processes is executed, the progress message may include information related to a currently-executed process of the plurality of processes is being executed, 20 a progress rate of the currently-executed process, usage amounts of energy, water, detergent and the like, etc.
In response to the progress message, the first control unit 280 outputs guidance information to guide the progress (S862). Specifically, the first control unit 280 receives a progress message informing the 25 progress of the function as the function is executed in the sub washer 300
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 by a user input, and outputs guidance information to guide the progress of the function based on the received progress message. The guidance information may be output in at least one of visual, auditory, and tactile manners.
Although not illustrated, the first control unit 280 may output the icons included in the first group. When a touch is applied to any one of the icons included in the first group, the associated function may be executed using the first wash tub 260. In this case, first guidance information for guiding a washing process of the first wash tub 260 may 10 be output.
Hereinafter, information for guiding a washing process of the first wash tub 260 is referred to as 'first guidance information', and information for guiding a washing process of the second wash tub 360 is referred to as 'second guidance information'.
FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D are conceptual views illustrating a method of outputting relevant information to the touch screen as a stroke is executed in at least one of the main washer and the sub washer. More specifically, FIG. 9A is a conceptual view illustrating an output of first guidance information, FIG. 9B is a conceptual view illustrating an output 20 of second guidance information, and FIGS. 9C and 9D are conceptual views illustrating a simultaneous output of the first and second guidance information.
When a function (or a stroke) is being executed using at least one of the first and second wash tubs 260 and 360, the first control unit 280 25 outputs guidance information to the touch screen 222 to guide a progress
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 of the function being executed in the at least one wash tub.
For example, when a function is being executed in the first wash tub 260 and a function is not executed in the second wash tub 360, the first guidance information is output.
Referring to FIG. 9A, the first control unit 280 may output a main washer control screen 510 including the icons included in the first group to the touch screen 222. When a touch is applied to a first icon 900 while the icons included in the first group are being output, a function associated with the first icon is selected. When a touch is applied to a 10 virtual operation button 516, the function associated with the first icon is executed using the first wash tub 260. As the function associated with the first icon is executed, the first guidance information 910 is displayed on the touch screen 222.
The first guidance information 910 may include information related 15 to a process being executed in the first wash tub 260. In addition, a virtual pause button 914 for pausing an operation being executed may be included.
On the other hand, the first control unit 180 may count an expected completion time of the function using at least one of the first and second 20 wash tubs 260 and 360, and output a progress image 912 whose size gradually changes along an edge of the touch screen 222 based on the counted time.
Accordingly, the first guidance information 910 may further include the progress image 912 whose size gradually changes along an outer 25 circumferential surface from one point of the touch screen 222 as the
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 expected completion time changes.
The one point corresponds to the 12 o'clock position of the touch screen 222, and the progress image 912 may be gradually unfolded or opened according to a lapse of time. Thus, the clothes treating apparatus 5 can inform the remaining time to the user in a new manner through a user interface suitable for a characteristic of a circular display.
On the other hand, as the function is executed, information included in the first guidance information 910 varies. Specifically, the first guidance information 910 includes the information for guiding the 10 progress of the function while the function is in progress, but the first guidance information 910 includes information for guiding the end or termination of the function when the function is terminated. For example, when the function is terminated, the first guidance information 910 may include information on the usage amounts of energy, water, detergents, 15 and the like.
The first background image described in FIG. 6A may be displayed underneath the first guidance information 910. For example, since an image filled with black is displayed as the background image of the first guidance information 910, the user may intuitively recognize that the first 20 guidance information 910 is related to the first wash tub 260.
On the other hand, the second guidance information is output when a function is not being executed in the first wash tub 260 and a function is being executed in the second wash tub 360.
Referring to FIG. 9B, the first control unit 280 may output a sub 25 washer control screen 610 including icons included in a second group to
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 the touch screen 222. When a touch is applied to a second icon 902 while the icons included in the second group are being output, the first control unit 280 selects a function associated with the second icon. Afterwards, when a touch is applied to the virtual operation button 516, the first 5 control unit 280 transmits a wash command to the sub washer 300 such that the function associated with the second icon is executed in the sub washer 300.
As the function is executed in the sub washer 300, the first control unit 280 receives a progress message notifying the progress of the 10 function, and outputs second guidance information 920 to the touch screen 222 to guide the progress of the function based on the received progress message.
Similar to the first guidance information 910, the second guidance information 920 may include information related to a process being 15 executed in the second wash tub 260 and information related to a remaining time until the function is terminated. In addition, the second guidance information 920 may include a virtual pause button 914 for pausing an operation being executed and a progress image 922 for guiding the remaining time.
As the function progresses, the information included in the second guidance information 910 also changes.
The second background image described in FIG. 6A may be displayed underneath the second guidance information 920. For example, the image filled with white may be displayed as the background image of 25 the second guidance information 920.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
On the other hand, when the function is executed in one of the first and second wash tubs, guidance information corresponding to the one wash tub is displayed on the touch screen. Thereafter, the user may select another wash tub using a graphic object and execute a function for 5 the another wash tub. The first guidance information 910 may include a second graphic object 620 and the second guidance information 920 may include a first graphic object 610 so that the another wash tub can be selected while the guidance information related to the one wash tub is being displayed. In this way, a function may first be executed in any one 10 of the wash tubs and then different functions may simultaneously be executed in the respective wash tubs.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, when a touch is applied to the first graphic object 622 while the second guidance information 920 is being displayed, the first control unit 280 switches the second guidance 15 information 920 to the main washer control screen 510. That is, in response to the touch being applied to the first graphic object 622, the second guidance information 920 may disappear and the main washer control screen 510 may appear.
Subsequently, the function with respect to the first wash tub may be executed by a touch applied to the main washer control screen 510. Thus, the function for the first wash tub and the function for the second wash tub can be performed at the same time. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the function executed in the first wash tub will be referred to as a 'first function’, and the function executed in the second wash tub will 25 be referred to as a 'second function'.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
As the first and second functions are executed, the first control unit 280 displays first guidance information 930 for the first function in a first region of the touch screen 222 and second guidance information 930 for the second function in a second region of the touch screen 222.
The positions of the first and second regions may vary depending on the arrangement of the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the sub washer 300 is disposed below the main washer 200, the first region is displayed relatively above the second region. In this way, the user can intuitively recognize which 10 clothes treating apparatus each guidance information relates to.
Further, the first background image illustrated in FIG. 6A may be displayed in the first region and the second background image may be displayed in the second region. Since the first guidance information 930 is displayed on the first background image and the second guidance 15 information 940 is displayed on the second background image, the first and second guidance information 930 and 940 can be easily distinguished from each other.
The first guidance information 930 may include a first virtual operate/pause button 932 for pausing or restarting the first function, and 20 the second guidance information 940 may include a second virtual operate/pause button 942 for pausing or restarting the second function. The user may individually control the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 by using the first and second virtual operate/pause buttons 940 and 942.
On the other hand, since the first and second functions are
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 performed separately, one of them is terminated first.
When one of the first and second functions is terminated, the first control unit 280 may stop the output of the first and second guidance information and output completion information related to the one function 5 on the touch screen 222, so as to indicate the termination of the one function.
Here, the completion information may include at least one of a name of the completed function, a start time at which the function has started, an end time at which the function has ended, a total time for 10 which the function has been executed, usage amounts of energy, water, detergents, etc., and information related to a clothes treating apparatus executing the one function.
The completion information related to the one function is output for a predetermined time. After a lapse of the predetermined time, guidance 15 information related to another function is output on the touch screen 222.
Since the one function has been completed, the output of the guidance information related to the one function is ended and the guidance information related to the another function is displayed by extending to a region including both first and second regions.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9D, the first guidance information 932 for the first function is displayed in the first region and the second guidance information 942 for the second function is displayed in the second region. The second function having a relatively short (fast) expected completion time is terminated earlier than the first function.
When the second function is terminated, the first and second
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 guidance information 930 and 940 disappear from the touch screen 222 and completion information 950 related to the second function is displayed for a predetermined time in a region including the first and second regions. For example, the completion information 950 related to 5 the second function may be displayed in the entire region of the touch screen 222.
After the lapse of the predetermined time, the completion information 950 related to the second function disappears from the touch screen 222 and first guidance information 930’ is displayed. Since the 10 output of the second guidance information 940 is terminated in response to the end of the second function, the first and second regions are integrated and the first guidance information 930’ is displayed in a region including the first and second regions.
Then, when the first function is terminated, the first guidance 15 information 930’ disappears and completion information 960 related to the first function is displayed on the touch screen 222 for a predetermined time. After a lapse of the predetermined of time, the touch screen 222 may be turned off or display the first and second graphic objects 520 and 522 illustrated in FIG. 5 in the on state.
FIGS. 10A and 10B are conceptual views each illustrating a method of controlling a sound output of each clothes treating apparatus.
Information output on the clothes treating apparatus 100 may be output not only in a visual manner but also in a mixed manner of visual and auditory manners. Since the main washer 200 and the sub washer 25 300 have separate output units 240 and 340, information output on them
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 may overlap each other. In particular, outputs in the auditory manner may be likely to overlap each other.
For example, as the first function is terminated, the second function is terminated while first completion information is output in the auditory 5 manner through the first output unit 240 and second completion information may be output through the second output unit 340. Since the first completion information and the second completion information are output from the different output units at the same time, the overlapping of those information is caused.
In order to solve this problem, the first control unit 280 of the main washer 200 corresponding to the master device may restrict the second control unit 380 and/or the second output unit 340 from generating an output through the second output unit 340 when the sub washer 300 corresponding to the slave device is connected.
More specifically, the first control unit 280 may sense a situation in which an output should be generated through the second output unit 380 while communicating with the second control unit 380. In this case, the first control unit 280 may output information, which is to be output through the second output unit 340, by using the first output unit 240. The second 20 output unit 340 is controlled by the first control unit 280 and/or the second control unit 380 so that the corresponding information is not output.
On the other hand, the first control unit 280 may output information related to the first wash tub 260 using the first output unit 240 and information related to the second wash tub 360 using the second output 25 unit 340.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10A, when a touch is applied to the first graphic object 520, the first wash tub 260 may be selected and the main washer control screen 510 may be displayed on the touch screen 222. In this case, a notification sound indicating that the first wash 5 tub 260 has been selected may be output through the first output unit 240.
When an event is generated by a touch applied to the main washer control screen 510, auditory information corresponding to the generated event may be output through the first output unit 240.
As another example, when a touch is applied to the second graphic 10 object 522, the second wash tub 360 may be selected and the sub washer control screen 610 may be displayed on the touch screen 222. In this case, a notification sound indicating that the second wash tub 360 has been selected may be output through the second output unit 340. Thereafter, when an event is generated in the sub washer 300, auditory 15 information corresponding to the generated event may be output through the second output unit 340.
Meanwhile, when an event that second information should be output through the second output unit 340 occurs while first information is output through the first output unit 240, the first control unit 280 transmits 20 an output restriction command to the sub washer 300 such that the second information can be output after the output of the first information is terminated. The second output unit 340 outputs the second information after the output of the first information is terminated according to the output restriction command.
For example, when the second function is terminated while the first
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 completion information is output in an auditory manner through the first output unit 240, the second control unit 380 and/or the second output unit 340 may be controlled such that the second completion information can be output after the output of the first completion information is terminated.
On the contrary, when an event that the first information should be output through the first output unit 240 occurs while the second information is output through the second output unit 340, the first control unit 280 restricts the output of the first output unit 240 until the output of the second information is terminated and then outputs the first information 10 through the first output unit 240 after the output of the second information is terminated.
On the other hand, although the first and second functions proceed individually, the first and second function may simultaneously be terminated or one function may be terminated while completion 15 information related to another function is output. In this case, the first and second completion information may be likely to overlap each other when they are output.
When the first and second functions are simultaneously terminated, the first control unit 280 first outputs completion information related to one 20 of the functions which has started earlier for a predetermined time, and then outputs completion information related to another function for a predetermined time after the predetermined time for the earlier-started function elapses. This results in preventing the overlapping of the information output to the touch screen 222.
Since simultaneous output of different information through the
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 respective output units is restricted, the user can use the clothes treating apparatus including the plurality of washers without confusion.
Meanwhile, one of first and second user interfaces may be selectively output by artificial intelligence even without a touch applied to 5 one of first and second graphic objects. Hereinafter, a method of selectively outputting one of interfaces in an artificial intelligence manner based on a user’s behavior will be described in detail.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are conceptual views illustrating a method of controlling information output to the touch screen based on a user’s 10 behavior.
Referring to FIG. 11 A, when a state of the first door 220 provided on the main washer 200 is changed by an external force, the first control unit 280 controls the touch screen 222 to output the main washer control screen 510. Specifically, when the first door 220 is switched from a first 15 state to a second state by an external force, icons included in a first group are displayed on the touch screen 222.
Here, the first state may be an open state in which the first door
220 opens the clothes inlet and the second state may be a closed state in which the first door 220 closes the clothes inlet. The reason why the user 20 switches the first door 220 to the closed state is that the user intends to use the first wash tub 260.
The main washer control screen 510 is output to the touch screen 222 according to the state change of the first door 220 regardless of a type of information being output.
On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, when a preset state
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 change is detected while the touch screen 222 is turned off, the first control unit 280 turns on the touch screen 222 and controls the touch screen 222 to display information corresponding to the state change.
For example, when the drawer housing 330 which has been drawn out of the second main body 310 is inserted into the second main body
310, the first control unit 280 controls the touch screen 222 to display icons included in a second group. When the touch screen 222 has been turned off, the first control unit 280 turns on the touch screen 222 which has been turned off so that the icons included in the second group are 10 displayed. This is because the user is willing to use the second wash tub
360.
Although not illustrated, when the second door 363 provided in the sub washer 300 is switched from the open state to the closed state, the first control unit 280 may control the touch screen 222 to output the icons 15 included in the second group. That is, the sub washer control screen 610 may be output to the touch screen 222 according to the state change of the second door 363.
In order to enable such control, the second control unit 380 detects a state change of a component included in the sub washer 300. When the 20 detected state change satisfies a preset condition, the second control unit
380 transmits a state change message to the first control unit 280. The first control unit 280 controls the touch screen 222 to display the sub washer control screen 610 in response to the received state change message.
FIG. 12 is a conceptual view illustrating an operation related to a
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 child lock function.
The first control unit may execute a child lock function based on a user input.
Here, the child lock function refers to a function of preventing a malfunction or an accident caused by a child by controlling a hardware button or a software button not to operate. When the child lock function is executed, a function execution by a touch is restricted even if a touch is applied to the touch screen. Only a touch input for releasing the child lock function is available and other touch inputs are ignored.
According to the illustrated example, when the child lock function is executed in a state where the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 are connected to each other, the first control unit 280 transmits a lock command to the sub washer 300 such that the child lock function is executed even in the sub washer 300. The second control unit 380 executes the child lock function in response to the received lock command.
The user can execute the child lock function in the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 by using the touch screen 222 provided at the main washer 200.
As the child lock function is executed in the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300, an indicator 1210 may be output to guide the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 are in a lock state. Accordingly, the user can recognize that both the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 are in the lock state.
FIG. 13 is a conceptual view illustrating a method of pairing or
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 unpairing (performing or releasing the connection between) the main washer and the sub washer based on a user input.
Referring to FIG. 13, the first control unit 280 controls the first communication unit 350 to perform pairing or unpairing with the sub 5 washer 300 based on a user input.
When the sub washer 300 is in the paired (connected) state, the first control unit 280 may output pairing state information 1310 to the touch screen 222 to guide the connection state with the sub washer 300.
Here, the pairing state information 1310 may include at least one of name, manufacturer, and product number as information related to the sub washer 300, and may further include arrangement state information 1312 visually indicating arranged positions of the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300.
When an unpair command for unpairing with the sub washer 300 is 15 received from the user, the first control unit 280 may unpair the sub washer 300. Thereafter, the touch screen 222 is restricted from outputting the icons included in the second group and allowed to output the icons included in the first group.
According to this example, the user can integrally manage the 20 clothes treating system by using the main washer 200 according to a usage style, or use the clothes treating system as an individual device other than the clothes treating system.
FIG. 14 is a conceptual view illustrating a clothes treating apparatus that can utilize a new washing function developed by a third 25 party as well as a preset washing function.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
The main washer 200 may easily install a new washing function developed by a third party as well as a preset washing function stored in the memory according to a user request.
More specifically, the first control unit 280 may select one of the main washer 200 and the sub washer 300 included in the clothes treating apparatus 100 based on a user input, and access a preset server to download functions executable in the selected washer.
For example, the first control unit 280 may download functions executable in the sub washer 300 from a preset server based on the user 10 request. The first control unit 280 may set downloaded icons as the icons included in the second group. The first control unit 280 may download icons corresponding to the sub washer 300 from the preset server into the memory and set a second group using the downloaded icons.
Further, the first control unit 280 may set at least one of types, output orders, and output positions of the icons included in the second group based on a user input or reset an existing setting to another setting.
For example, as illustrated in the first drawing of FIG. 14, when functions A to F are preset as the second group with respect to the sub washer called ‘LG top loader washer,’ icons corresponding to the 20 functions A to F, respectively, are displayed at preset output positions.
When a download request for the 'LG top loader washer’ is received, the first control unit 280 may download function G to M, which are new functions executable in the ‘LG top loader washer,’ from the preset server. When the downloading is completed, as illustrated in the 25 second drawing of FIG. 14, icons corresponding to the prestored
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 functions A to F and icons corresponding to the newly-downloaded functions G to M are displayed on the touch screen 222.
Thereafter, the first control unit 280 may add a new icon to the second group, delete a preset icon, or change a display position of a 5 preset icon based on a user input. For example, as illustrated in a fourth drawing of FIG. 14, when a user input of dragging an icon L corresponding to the function L and dropping it to an output position of an icon C corresponding to the function C is detected, the first control unit 280 may delete the icon C from the second group and add the icon L. The 10 icon L is displayed at the position where the icon C has been displayed.
Thus, the user can construct an interface optimized for himself/herself, and can install and use a new function developed by a third party in his/her clothes treating apparatus.
The present disclosure described above can be implemented as 15 computer-readable codes on a program-recorded medium. The computer readable medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data readable by a computer system is stored. Examples of the computerreadable medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device and the like, and may also be 20 implemented in the form of a carrier wave (e.g., transmission over the Internet). In addition, the computer may also include the control unit 180 of the terminal.
The above detailed description should not be limitedly construed in all aspects and should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the 25 present invention should be determined by rational interpretation of the
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 appended claims, and all changes within the scope of equivalents of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.
Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word comprise, and variations such as 5 comprises and comprising, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and 10 should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims (18)

1. A clothes treating apparatus, comprising:
first and second cabinets forming an outer shape;
5 a first wash tub provided in the first cabinet;
a first door to open and close a clothes inlet of the first wash tub;
a drawer housing drawn in or out of the second cabinet through an opening formed through the front of the second cabinet;
a second wash tub provided in the drawer housing;
10 a second door to open and close a clothes inlet of the second wash tub;
a touch screen provided on the first cabinet; and a control unit to control the touch screen to output a first graphic object for selecting the first wash tub and a second graphic object for 15 selecting the second wash tub, wherein the control unit is further configured to:
when a function using one of the first and second wash tubs is being executed, control the touch screen to output guidance information to guide a progress of the function using the one wash tub; and
20 control the touch screen to output the first and second graphic objects when a preset user input is received while the guidance information is output.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first door comprises:
a door frame rotatably coupled to the first cabinet; and a door cover coupled to the door frame to form an outer shape of the first door and having a light-transmitting region, wherein the touch screen is
5 disposed on the door frame and outputs visual information through the lighttransmitting region of the door cover.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit selects one of the first and second wash tubs when a touch is applied to one of the first and
10 second graphic objects, and controls the touch screen to output icons associated with functions executable in the selected wash tub.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the control unit controls the touch screen to output icons included in a first group when the first wash tub
15 is selected, and to output icons included in a second group when the second wash tub is selected.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control unit, when icons included in one of the first and second groups are output, restricts an output
20 of icons included another group.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the touch screen such that the icons included in the first group disappear and
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 the icons included in the second group appear when a touch is applied to the second graphic object while the icons included in the first group are displayed on the touch screen.
5
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second graphic object is output together when the icons included in the first group are output, and the first graphic object is output together when the icons included in the second group are output.
10
8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a first image is displayed on the touch screen and the icons included in the first group are displayed on the first image when the first wash tub is selected, and a second image different from the first image is output on the touch screen and the icons included in the second group are displayed on the second image when the second wash 15 tub is selected.
9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first wash tub rotates centering on a first rotating shaft and the second wash tub rotates centering on a second rotating shaft intersecting with the first rotating shaft.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the icons included in the first group is associated with a function executable in the first wash tub according to characteristics of the first rotating shaft, and each of the icons
2016385333 23 Apr 2019 included in the second group is associated with a function executable in the second wash tub according to characteristics of the second rotating shaft.
11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control unit executes a
5 function associated with a first icon using the first wash tub when a touch is applied to the first icon while the icons included in the first group are output, and executes a function associated with a second icon using the second wash tub when a touch is applied to the second icon while the icons included in the second group are output.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second graphic objects are configured as transparent images, the guidance information overlaps the first and second graphic objects, and a touch input applied to one of the first and second graphic objects generates a control command for
15 the one graphic object.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs first guidance information in a first region of the touch screen to guide a progress of a first function and second guidance information in a
20 second region to guide a progress of a second function when the first function using the first wash tub and the second function using the second wash tub are being executed.
2016385333 23 Apr 2019
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first region outputs thereon a first virtual button to pause or restart the first function and the second region outputs thereon a second virtual button to pause or restart the second function.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is formed in a circular shape, and the control unit counts an expected completion time of the one wash tub when the function using the one wash tub is executed and controls the touch screen to output an image gradually changing in size
10 along an edge of the touch screen based on the counted time.
16. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the touch screen to output the icons included in the first group when the first door is switched from a first state to a second state due to an external force.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first state is an opened state in which the door opens a clothes inlet and the second state is a closed state in which the door closes the clothes inlet.
20 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control unit controls the touch screen to output the icons included in the second group when the second door is switched from the first state to the second state by an external force.
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KR1020160001219A KR102643351B1 (en) 2016-01-05 2016-01-05 Laundry treating apparatus
PCT/KR2016/015529 WO2017119673A1 (en) 2016-01-05 2016-12-29 Clothes treating apparatus

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