Control device of water purifier, water purifier, and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11057965-B2
Application number	US-201715586335-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2017
Priority date	May 4, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A control device, for a water purifier, that dispenses hot water and that includes: an input unit that is configured to receive a command signal; and a controller that is configured to control the water purifier based on the command signal, wherein the controller is configured to: control power output of a heating unit that is configured to heat water stored in a hot water tank of the water purifier, and based on the power output of the heating unit, control temperature of hot water dispensed by the water purifier is disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control device of a water purifier that dispenses hot water, the control device comprising:
an input unit that receives, from a user, a command signal including information regarding a set temperature; and
a controller that is configured to control the water purifier based on the command signal,
wherein the controller is configured to:
control power output of an induction heater that is configured to, based on the set temperature, heat water stored in a hot water tank of the water purifier to thereby generate hot water to be dispensed,
control a temperature of the hot water dispensed by the water purifier based on the power output of the induction heater,
control the power output of the induction heater by controlling a frequency or a phase of AC power supplied to the induction heater,
control the frequency or the phase of AC power applied to the induction heater based on a difference between a detected temperature of water introduced into the hot water tank and a detected temperature of the hot water dispensed from the hot water tank compared to a preset difference reference, and
adjust an angle of a flow rate valve that is positioned at an upstream of the hot water tank and that is configured to control a flow channel configured to supply purified water from a filter to the hot water tank.

2. A water purifier comprising:
an input unit that receives, from a user, a command signal including information regarding a set temperature;
an inlet part through which purified water is introduced;
a hot water tank that is configured to store water introduced through the inlet part;
a flow rate valve positioned at an upstream of the hot water tank and configured to adjust a flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank, the flow rate valve being configured to control a flow channel that is configured to supply purified water from a filter to the hot water tank;
an induction heater that is configured to, based on the set temperature, heat water stored in the hot water tank to thereby generate hot water to be dispensed;
a water dispense part that is configured to dispense the hot water stored in the hot water tank; and
a control device that is configured to:
control power output of the induction heater based on the set temperature,
control a temperature of the hot water dispensed by the water dispense part based on the power output of the induction heater,
control the power output of the induction heater by controlling a frequency or a phase of AC power supplied to the induction heater,
control the frequency or the phase of AC power applied to the induction heater based on a difference between a detected temperature of water introduced into the hot water tank and a detected temperature of the hot water dispensed from the hot water tank compared to a preset difference reference, and
adjust an angle of the flow rate valve.

3. A control method of a water purifier, the control method comprising:
receiving a command signal including information regarding a set temperature;
receiving purified water;
storing the purified water in a hot water tank of the water purifier,
wherein the water purifier includes a heating unit that is configured to heat water stored in the hot water tank based on the set temperature and that includes an induction heater;
controlling power output of the heating unit by controlling a frequency or a phase of AC power supplied to the heating unit;
based on the power output of the heating unit, controlling a temperature of hot water dispensed from the hot water tank;
dispensing the hot water from the hot water tank;
controlling the frequency or the phase of AC power applied to the induction heater based on a difference between a detected temperature of water introduced into the hot water tank and a detected temperature of the hot water dispensed from the hot water tank compared to a preset difference reference; and
adjusting an angle of a flow rate valve positioned at an upstream of the hot water tank.

4. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
adjust a flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank based on the difference between the detected temperature of water introduced into the hot water tank and the detected temperature of the hot water dispensed from the hot water tank.

5. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
detect a flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank;
based on the detected flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank, calculate the angle of the flow rate valve relative to ground and a control value of the flow rate valve; and
control the angle of the flow rate valve based on the detected flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank or an amount of water stored in the hot water tank.

6. The water purifier of claim 2 , wherein the control device is configured to:
detect a flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank;
based on the detected flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank, calculate the angle of the flow rate valve relative to ground and a control value of the flow rate valve; and
control the angle of the flow rate valve based on the detected flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank or an amount of water stored in the hot water tank.

7. The control method of claim 3 , further comprising:
detecting a flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank;
based on the detected flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank, calculating the angle of the flow rate valve relative to ground and a control value of the flow rate valve; and
controlling the angle of the flow rate valve based on the detected flow rate of water introduced to the hot water tank or an amount of water stored in the hot water tank.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Yonghyun
• Choi Kobong
• Jeon Jewook
• An Siyeon

Classifications

• F24H15/238

  Flow rate · CPC title

• F24H15/219

  after heating · CPC title

• F24H1/185

  using electric energy supply (F24H1/201 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B67D1/1234

  to determine the total amount · CPC title

• B67D1/0895

  Heating arrangements · CPC title