Water dispensing apparatus and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10793415-B2
Application number	US-201816028144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2018
Priority date	Jan 20, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A water dispensing apparatus may include a dispenser housing at which a container accommodation part accommodating a container is formed to be recessed; a water nozzle provided at an inner surface of the dispenser housing which defines an upper surface of the container accommodation part; a water level detecting member provided at the inner surface of the dispenser housing close to the water nozzle and configured to detect a level of water filled in the container; a target water level input part provided to input the level of water filled in the container; and a water level indicating unit provided at an inner surface of the dispenser housing which defines a side surface of the container accommodation part to indicate a water level on the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a water dispensing apparatus, comprising:
detecting a container placed in a container recess by a water level detector provided at a dispenser housing;
receiving a target water level by an operation of an input interface;
radiating light from a target water level indicator to an outer surface of the container, and thus indicating the target water level on the outer surface of the container, the target water level indicator including a first light emitting element and a first driver moving the first light emitting element up or down;
opening a water supply valve when the target water level is received;
dispensing water through a water nozzle exposed to an upper surface of the recess, and filling the container with the water;
detecting a current level of the water filled in the container by the water level detector; and
radiating the light from a current water level indicator to the outer surface of the container to indicate the current water level on the outer surface of the container, the current water level indicator including a second light emitting element and a second driver moving the second light emitting element up or down,
wherein, when the target water level is set, the first driver moves the first light emitting element up to a height corresponding to the target water level and stops at the height, and
wherein, as the current level of the water increases, the second driver continuously moves the second light emitting element up to the height corresponding to the current water level.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, when there is non-detection of the container by the water level detector, receiving of the target water level is prevented.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the target water level indicator is disposed at a first side surface of the container recess, and the current water level indicator is disposed at a second side surface of the container recess.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the water level detector comprises an ultrasonic sensor, and
when a distance from the water level detector to a bottom of the recess, which is detected by the ultrasonic sensor, is shorter than an initially set distance, receiving of the target water level is activated.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving of the target water level comprises operating one or more of a plurality of input buttons provided at the dispenser housing, and a water level value based on input to the button is set as the target water level.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the target water level comprises pressing several times one of a plurality of input buttons provided at the dispenser housing, and a water level value is based on number of times the button is depressed.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the target water level comprises:
rotating a dial knob provided at the dispenser housing at a predetermined angle; and
pressing the dial knob, wherein when the dial knob is pressed, a water level value corresponding to a rotation amount of the dial knob before the dial knob is pressed is determined as the target water level.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the target water level comprises:
dragging a screen of a touch pad provided at an outside of the dispenser housing; and
touching the screen of the touch pad after the dragging, wherein when the screen of the touch pad is touched, a dragged height before the screen of the touch pad is touched is determined as the target water level.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising selecting one of purified water and cold water,
wherein the selection of one of the purified water and the cold water is performed before or after the target water level is input.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a color of the light indicating the target water level is set to be different from that of the light indicating the current water level.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Choi Byoungsuk
• Park Shinhyun
• Kim Sun

Classifications

• B67D1/0875

  Means for illuminating the beverage to be dispensed · CPC title

• B67D1/0888

  Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means) · CPC title

• B67D1/0871

  Level gauges for beverage storage containers (level indicators in general G01F) · CPC title

• B67D2210/00036

  for use with or in refrigerators · CPC title

• B67D2001/1259

  Fluid level control devices · CPC title