U.S. patent application number 12/457706 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-31 for control panel of laundry machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Jong Hee Han, Ho Il Jeon, Myung Shik Kim.
Application Number | 20090320530 12/457706 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40420778 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090320530 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Myung Shik ; et
al. |
December 31, 2009 |
Control panel of laundry machine
Abstract
A control panel of a laundry machine is disclosed. A control
panel of a laundry machine includes a first operation part for
selecting one of plural washing courses, a display part displaying
the washing course selected by using the first operation part and a
control part controlling the display part to display the washing
course selected by using the first operation part. According to the
control panel, it is unnecessary to print letters of the washing
courses in the surface of the control panel. As a result, the
exterior design of the control panel 110 may be improved and there
may be no concern of the printed courses being erased.
Inventors: |
Kim; Myung Shik;
(Changwon-si, KR) ; Han; Jong Hee; (Changwon-si,
KR) ; Jeon; Ho Il; (Changwon-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP
1900 K STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
40420778 |
Appl. No.: |
12/457706 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/12.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 34/28 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/12.27 |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/00 20060101
D06F039/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 19, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0057768 |
Claims
1. A control panel of a laundry machine comprising: a first
operation part for generating a signal for sequentially displaying
plural washing courses; a control part for sequentially providing
the plural washing courses according to the signal of the first
operation part; a display part for sequentially displaying the
washing course provided by the control part in letters or
figures.
2. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim 1,
further comprising: a second operation part for selecting one of
plural cycles composing the washing course, wherein the control
part controls the display part to display the cycle selected by
using the second operation part in letters or figures.
3. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the second operation part comprises a plurality of buttons
corresponding to the plural cycles composing the washing
course.
4. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the cycles selected by using the second operation part is
sequentially displayed in the display part by a signal of the first
operation part.
5. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the cycle selected by using the second operation part is
selected one of washing, rinsing, spinning and drying cycle.
6. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim 2,
further comprising a third operation part for selecting specific
settings of the cycle, wherein the control part controls the
display part to display the specific setting selected by using the
third operation part in letters or figures.
7. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim 6,
wherein the third operation part comprises a button to select and
change the specific settings.
8. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the specific setting selected by using the third operation
part is changed by a signal of the first operation part.
9. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim 8,
wherein the specific setting is selected one of a water
temperature, water amount, the number of washings, rinsings and
spinnings and the drying time.
10. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the first operation part is rotatable to generate a signal
according to a rotation direction, and the control part displays
the preset washing courses in the display part sequentially
according to the signal.
11. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim
10, wherein the signal is a step signal correspondingly generated
according to a rotation direction of the first operation part.
12. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim
10, wherein the signal is a single continuous signal
correspondingly generated according to a rotation direction of the
first operation part.
13. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim
10, wherein the first operation part transmits a different signal
according to the rotation direction and the control part
sequentially displays the washing courses in the display part
according to the signal transmitted by the first operation part in
a predetermined order or in an opposite order.
14. The control panel of the laundry machine as claimed in claim
10, wherein the order of the washing courses one-by-one displayed
by the control part is changeable.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2008-0057768, filed on Jun. 19, 2008, which is
hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] The present invention relates to a laundry machine. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a control method of
a laundry machine.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, laundry machines are electric appliances that are
used to wash or dry or both wash and dry clothes, cloth items and
beddings (hereinafter, laundry). Here, laundry machines are washers
or dryers that operate a washing or drying function. Also, laundry
machines are single appliances that operate a washing and drying
function. In recent have been consumed laundry machines including a
steam supply device with a refreshing function to remove wrinkles,
unpleasant smell, static electricity of laundry.
[0006] Such a conventional laundry machine will be described simply
in reference to a corresponding drawing.
[0007] In reference to FIG. 1, a conventional laundry machine
includes a cabinet 1 and a control panel 10. The cabinet 1 defines
an exterior appearance of the laundry machine. The control panel 10
is provided in a front or top surface of the cabinet and various
commands are input and output to the control panel by a user.
[0008] The control panel 10 includes a rotary knob 11, a plurality
of selection buttons 12, a display 13, a power button 14 and a
start button 15. the user uses the rotary knob 11 to select a
washing course and the user uses the plurality of the selection
buttons 12 to adjust specific settings of the washing course. The
display 13 displays an operation state of the laundry machine.
[0009] Here, the washing course is provided to operate washing
automatically according to predetermined preset conditions.
Generally, a plurality of washing courses are preset, for example,
a normal, silent, sheet, baby's clothes, allergy care, steam
cleaning and the like.
[0010] A user selects one of the washing courses according to an
object of the washing or the kind of laundry and corresponding
washing automatically operates according to predetermined
conditions of the selected course. That is, desired washing may be
operated automatically, without the user's selection of specific
conditions corresponding to the object of the washing, for example,
whether to use steam or drying function, the temperature and amount
of wash water, an order or the number of repeating washing cycles
including washing, rinsing and spinning cycle.
[0011] In the control panel 10 may be provided an encoder (not
shown) mounted in a circuit board. The encoder is connected with a
center of the rotation of the rotary knob 11 and it generates
different control signals according to a rotational angle of the
rotary knob 11. Here, each of the control signals is a signal
corresponding to one of the plural washing courses.
[0012] A washing course display part 16 is provided adjacent to the
rotary knob 11 and letters of the washing courses corresponding to
the control signals generated according to the rotation of the
rotary knob 11, respectively, are printed in the washing course
display part 16. In addition, an LED 17 is provided between the
rotary knob 11 and the washing course display part 16 and the LED
17 is lighted according to the rotation of the rotary knob 11 to
inform each letter selected out of the washing course display part
16 of the user.
[0013] Rotating the rotary knob 11, the user may adjust a desired
washing course to be selected through the LED 17 and the washing
course display part 16.
[0014] However, the laundry machine having the above configuration
would have a following disadvantage.
[0015] That is, when the user selects a washing course, the washing
course display part displaying the selected washing course is
printed in the surface of the control panel such that the exterior
appearance of the control panel may look untidy and that the print
may be erased. If the washing course display part 16 is erased, the
user happens to be confused of which washing course is
selected.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0016] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a control
panel of a laundry machine.
[0017] An object of the present invention is to provide a control
panel of a laundry machine that is able to display actively a
washing course selected at the present when a user selecting
washing courses.
[0018] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0019] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a control panel of a laundry machine
includes a first operation part for selecting one of plural washing
courses; a display part displaying the washing course selected by
using the first operation part; and a control part controlling the
display part to display the washing course selected by using the
first operation part.
[0020] The control panel may further include a second operation
part for selecting one of plural cycles composing the washing
course, wherein the control part controls the display part to
display the cycle selected by using the second operation part in
predetermined letters.
[0021] The second operation part may include a plurality of buttons
corresponding to the plural cycles composing the washing
course.
[0022] The cycles selected by using the second operation part are
sequentially displayed in the display part by the first operation
part.
[0023] The cycle selected by using the second operation part may be
selected one of washing, rinsing, spinning and drying cycle.
[0024] The control panel may further include a third operation part
for selecting specific settings of the cycle and the control part
may control the display part to display the specific setting
selected by using the third operation part in predetermined
letters.
[0025] The third operation part may include a button to select and
change the specific settings.
[0026] The specific setting selected by using the third operation
part may be changed by the first operation part.
[0027] The specific setting may be selected one of a water
temperature, water amount, the number of washings, rinsings and
spinnings and the drying time.
[0028] The washing course displayed in the display part may be
displayed in letters or figures.
[0029] The first operation part may be rotatable to generate a
signal according to a rotation direction, and the control part may
display the preset washing courses in the display part sequentially
according to the signal.
[0030] The signal may be a step signal correspondingly generated
according to a rotation direction of the first operation part.
[0031] The signal may be a single continuous signal correspondingly
generated according to a rotation direction of the first operation
part.
[0032] The first operation part may transmit a different signal
according to the rotation direction and the control part may
sequentially display the washing courses in the display part
according to the signal transmitted by the first operation part in
a predetermined order or in an opposite order.
[0033] The order of the washing courses one-by-one displayed by the
control part may be changeable.
[0034] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the disclosure.
[0036] In the drawings:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an exterior
appearance of a conventional laundry machine;
[0038] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an exterior
appearance of a laundry machine according to the present
invention;
[0039] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a control
panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the
control panel shown in FIG. 3; and
[0041] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a control
panel according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0042] Reference will now be made in detail to the specific
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0043] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exterior appearance of a
laundry machine according to the present invention.
[0044] In reference to FIG. 2, a laundry machine 100 includes a
cabinet 101, a tub (not shown), a drum 102, a motor (not shown), a
cover 103 and a door 105. The cabinet 101 defines an exterior
appearance of the laundry machine 100 and the tub (not shown) is
provided in the cabinet 101 to receive wash water therein. The drum
102 is oriented rotatable in the tub and laundry is received in the
drum 102. The motor (not shown) is mounted to a rear of the tub and
the motor rotates the drum 102. The cover 103 is provided in a
front of the cabinet 101, having an opening 104 formed therein to
introduce the laundry. The door 105 is coupled to the cover 103 to
open and close the opening 104.
[0045] The laundry machine 100 may further include a control panel
110 provided in an upper portion of a front surface of the cabinet
101 and the control panel 110 includes various buttons operable by
a user.
[0046] In addition, the laundry machine 100 may include a hot air
supply device (not shown) supplying hot air to the drum 102 and a
steam supply device (not shown) supplying steam to the drum
102.
[0047] The hot air supply device heat air and it supplies hot air
to the drum 102 to dry the laundry received in the drum 102. The
steam supply device heats water to generate steam and it supplies
the steam to the drum 102 to refresh the laundry received in the
drum 102. Here, the term of `refresh the laundry` may mean removing
wrinkles, unpleasant smell, static electricity of the laundry and
the like. The detailed explanation of the hot air supply device and
the steam supply device is well-known knowledge in the air to which
the present invention pertains and the detailed explanation thereof
will be omitted accordingly.
[0048] The laundry machine 100 according to the present invention
may have a drying function and preset washing courses using steam,
because it includes the hot air supply device and the steam supply
device. As a result, more various washing courses may be preset,
for example, a drying, allergy care, steam cleaning and the
like.
[0049] The control panel 110 according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention will be described in reference to the
corresponding drawings as follows.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the control panel 110 includes a
first operation part 120, a second operation part 140, a third
operation part 150, a display part 130 and a control part 200. The
user selects one of plural washing courses by using the first
operation part 120 and he/she selects one of cycles composing each
washing course by using the second operation part 140. The user
selects specific setting value of the cycle by using the third
operation part. The display part 130 displays the selected setting
and operational state of the selected setting. The control part 200
transmits the setting of each operation part 120, 140 and 150 and
information on the operation state to the display part 130 such
that the display part 130 may display the setting and the
information under the control of the control part 200.
[0051] Furthermore, a power button 111 and a start button 112 may
be provided in the control panel 110. The power button 111 allows
the user to control the electricity supply of the laundry machine
100 and the start button 112 allows the user to start or stop
temporarily the operation of the laundry machine 100.
[0052] In addition, the control panel 110 includes a separate OK
button (not shown) for selecting or deciding an item (e.g., washing
course, washing cycles, specific setting or preset values or the
like) displayed in the display part 130 according to the signal of
each operation part 120, 140 and 150.
[0053] The washing course may be provided in plural and the washing
courses are employed to operate washing according to preset
conditions automatically. For example, the washing courses may be a
normal, sanitary, silent, sheet, baby's clothes, lingerie, wool,
functional clothes course and the like.
[0054] Each of the washing courses is preset in consideration of
the user's object of the washing and the kind of the laundry and
washing operation is performed according to the preset order and
conditions corresponding to the washing object of each washing
course from the beginning to the last.
[0055] Washing cycles compose the single washing course, including
a washing, rinsing, spinning, steam, drying cycle and the like.
Generally, the single washing course is configured of a plurality
of cycles.
[0056] The specific setting or preset values are conditions for
operating the cycle, that is, the temperature of wash water, the
performance number of spinning or rinsing cycles, the amount of
water and the drying time.
[0057] Generally, the plurality of the cycles and the specific
setting values are preset in the washing course. Thus, if the user
selects a washing course, the user does not have to select and set
corresponding specific setting values of the cycles.
[0058] However, the user may adjust the specific setting values of
the washing course even after selecting one of the washing courses
according to necessity or taste.
[0059] That is, the first operation part 120 is for selection of
the washing course and the second and third operations parts 140
and the 150 are for adjusting specific setting values of the
selected washing according to the user's necessity.
[0060] The first operation part 120 may be embodied as a rotary
knob generating different signals according to rotation in a right
and left direction. Such a rotary knob generates step signals such
as +/- according to the rotation directions and the rotary knob
transmits the step signals to the control part 200. this kind of
the rotary knob is provided for user's usage convenience and it can
be embodied as buttons able to generate the step signals such as +
and -. Here, the first operation part 120 would generate a
continuous signal corresponding to the rotation directions of the
first operation part 120.
[0061] The second operation part 140 is for selection of one of the
plural cycles composing the washing course selected by the first
operation part 120. This second operation part 140 may be embodied
as a plurality of buttons as many as the washing, rinsing,
spinning, steam drying as shown in FIG. 2.
[0062] The third operation part 140 is for predetermining specific
setting values of the cycle selected by the second operation part
140. for example, using the second operation part 150, the user may
adjust the specific setting values of conditions for the cycle
selected by the second operation part 150, for example, the water
temperature, the number of the rinsing and spinning cycles, the
water amount, the drying time and the like.
[0063] In case of the cycle selection by using the second operation
part 140 and the specific setting by using the third operation part
140, the user may use the first operation part 120 to select the
cycle or predetermine the setting. That is, the user may change the
cycle selection and the specific setting by using the step signals
of the first operation part 120.
[0064] The control part 200 controls the display part 130 to
display selected and preset information according to the selection
and setting of the first, second and third operation parts 120, 140
and 150.
[0065] The control part 200 displays the preset washing courses
according to the step signals generated according to the operation
of the first operation part 120 sequentially. At this time, the
order of the washing courses displayed according to the + and -
step signals in clockwise direction or counter-clockwise
direction.
[0066] The control part 200 displays the cycle selected by the
second operation part 140 according to the operation of the second
operation part 140. In case of additional selection of the cycle,
the first operation part 120 can be used.
[0067] The control part 200 displays the specific settings of the
cycle selected by the third operation part 140 according to the
operation of the third operation part 140. In case of additional
predetermining of the specific setting of the cycle, the first
operation 120 may be used. That is, the values of the specific
settings may be increased by using the + and - step signals of the
first operation part 120.
[0068] As a result, the user operates the first, second and third
operation parts 120, 140 and 150 provided in the control panel 110
to select one of the plural washing courses, and also the user
operates the operation parts to select one of the plural cycles
composing the selected washing course and to adjust the specific
setting of the selected cycle.
[0069] The display part 130 is provided to display the washing
courses, cycles and specific settings selected and preset in the
first, second and third operation parts 120, 140 and 150 in letters
and symbols. Here, a light emitting part may be provided adjacent
to the display part 130 such that the user may identify information
displayed in the display part 130 in a dark place. It is preferable
that the display part 130 may be embodied as a liquid crystal
display (LCD) screen or LED able to emit lights independently.
[0070] In the meanwhile, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a first
operation part of a control panel according to another embodiment
of the present invention. compared with the above embodiment, the
other configurations are identical except a plurality of light
emitting parts 160 further provide adjacent to the first operation
part 120 and description of the identical configurations will
omitted accordingly.
[0071] In reference to FIG. 5, the control panel of the laundry
machine according to this embodiment further includes a plurality
of light emitting parts 160 provided adjacent to the first
operation part 120.
[0072] If the first operation part 120 is rotated, the control part
controls the plurality of the light emitting parts 160 to emit
lights sequentially according to the rotation direction of the
first operation part 120, such that the user may identify the
rotational direction of the first operation part 120 via the light
emitting parts 160 and that an exterior design of the control panel
may be improved.
[0073] If the user pushes the power button 111 to power on the
laundry machine, the control part 200 may controls the light
emitting parts 160 to emit lights and to be turned off
sequentially, or to emit lights sequentially along a circumference
of the first operation part 120. As a result, when pushing the
power button 111, the user may identify the powered-on state more
conveniently and the exterior design may be improved.
[0074] As follows, an operation of the control panel of the laundry
machine will be described in detail. The names and configurations
which will be described as follows must be understood in reference
to the above explanation and the corresponding drawings.
[0075] As the user operating the first operation part 120, the
control part 200 provided in the control panel 110 of the laundry
machine 100 receives the step signal generated according to the
user's operation of the first operation part 120 and it controls
the display part to display the washing courses sequentially
according to the step signals. Here, the user may simultaneously
identify and selects the washing courses displayed in the display
part 130 one by one according to the order.
[0076] The selected washing course may be washing course finally
displayed in the display part 130 by the first operation part 120.
Alternatively, the washing course displayed in the display part 130
may be the washing course selected by pressing the OK button (not
shown) by the user.
[0077] The signal generated by the first operation part 120 is a
+/- step signal generated by the user's operation, not a local
signal corresponding to one of the washing courses according to the
conventional control panel, and the control part 200 displays the
preset washing courses one-by-one according to the order when
receiving the signal transmitted by the first operation part
120.
[0078] It is preferable that the + or - step signal is generated
according to the rotation of the first operation part 120 and that
the control part 200 displays the washing courses sequentially in
the preset order or vice versa according to the + or - step
signal.
[0079] For example, if the user rotates the first operation part
120 in a clockwise direction, the first operation part 120
generates + step signal and the control part 200 displays the
preset plural washing courses sequentially according to the preset
order. If the user rotates the first operation part 120 in a
counter-clockwise direction, the first operation part generates -
step signal and the control part 200 displays the washing courses
sequentially according to an opposite of the preset order.
[0080] The order of the plural washing courses preset in the
control part 200 may be changeable. That is, the order of selecting
the washing courses one-by-one preset in the control part may be
changeable as necessary. For that, an auxiliary changing button
(not shown) may be further provided.
[0081] Also, it is preferable that the first operation part, the
display part 130 and the control part 200 are provided in the
control panel 110 and the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, the first operation part 120 and the display part 130
are provided in the control panel 110 and the control part 200 is
provided in another portion of the laundry machine 100, not in the
control panel 110. In this case, signal transmission among the
first operation part 120, the display part 130 and the control part
200 may be performed via wires or wireless.
[0082] Alternatively, the first operation part 120 may be
configured of a button type and the button type first operation
part 120 may generate a single signal whenever being pushed. That
is, as the user pushes the first operation part 120 continuously,
not rotates the first operation part 120 one time, the washing
courses preset in the control part 200 according to the preset
order may be changed one-by-one.
[0083] The control part 200 controls the display part 130 to
displays the cycles corresponding to the selected washing course
selected by the first operation part 120 in predetermined letters
or figures. After that, if the user desires to change the setting
for each cycle, the user operates the second operation part 140 and
selects a desired cycle.
[0084] Hence, the control part 200 controls the display part 130 to
display the specific setting of the cycle selected by the user and
the user may select one of the displayed settings of the cycle the
user desires to change.
[0085] Here, the change of the settings by using the third
operation part 140 may be performed in connection with the first
operation part 120. That is, the changing the setting performed by
the third operation part 140 may be performed, using the +/- step
signals of the first operation part 120.
[0086] The control part 200 controls the display part 130 to
display the specific setting of the cycle selected by the third
operation part 150 in predetermined letters.
[0087] As a result, the user may select a desired washing course
and adjust the specific setting values of the cycle of the selected
washing course, viewing the letters displayed in the display part
by the control part 200.
[0088] According to the control panel 110 of the laundry machine
100 according to the present invention, the washing course is
displayed in the display part 130 by the control part 200 in
letters and the user may select a desired washing course, viewing
the washing course displayed in the display part 130 in letters,
compared with the conventional control panel of which the surface
the user selects one of the washing courses, viewing the washing
courses printed in.
[0089] Therefore, according to the control panel 110 of the laundry
machine 100, it is unnecessary to print letters of the washing
courses in the surface of the control panel 110. As a result, the
exterior design of the control panel 110 may be improved and there
may be no concern of the printed courses being erased.
[0090] Furthermore, it is possible to change or add the washing
courses stored in the control part 200 afterward, because the
washing courses are not printed in the surface of the control panel
110. If the washing courses are printed in the surface of the
control panel 110, the number and the kinds of the washing courses
should be determined when manufacturing the laundry machines and it
is impossible to change the number and kinds of the washing
courses.
[0091] As a result, after the manufacturing of the laundry machine,
the number and the kinds of the washing courses may be changed or
added according to the user's request, generation of new kinds of
clothes or necessity of new functioning washing course.
[0092] That is, the plurality of the washing courses may be stored
in the control part 200 according to the preset order. The signal
generated by the first operation part 120 is only to change the
washing courses stored in the control part 200 one-by-one and thus
the change or addition of the washing courses stored in the control
part 200 may be possible.
[0093] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *