Method for controlling laundry management apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12473686-B2
Application number	US-202318383649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2023
Priority date	Feb 21, 2020
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

A method for controlling a laundry management apparatus comprising a washing unit and a drying unit that are operated by a single operation unit and remotely controlled to manage hygiene of the drying unit, is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for controlling a laundry management apparatus including a washer and a dryer, the method comprising: performing a washing operation by the washer; while the washing operation is performed by the washer, performing a hygienic operation by the dryer before performing a drying operation by the dryer, wherein the hygienic operation comprises washing and drying a condenser of the dryer; and synchronizing the washing operation of the washer and the hygienic operation of the dryer such that the hygienic operation is completed on or before a completion time of the washing operation wherein performing the hygienic operation comprises: based on a first operation time of the washing operation being less than a second operation time of the hygienic operation, resetting the first operation time to be greater than or equal to the second operation time or resetting the second operation time to be less than or equal to the first operation time to thereby terminate the hygienic operation of the dryer on or before terminating the washing operation of the washer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hygienic operation further comprises heating and supplying air into a drum of the dryer, the drum being configured to receive laundry.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the washing operation of the washer is performed according to the first operation time that is reset to be greater than or equal to the second operation time.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising transmitting the first operation time to the dryer after resetting the first operation time.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein performing the hygienic operation further comprises:
after transmitting the first operation time to the dryer and based on the laundry being present in the dryer, outputting a notification indicating the presence of the laundry; outputting a notification for selecting whether to perform the drying operation of the dryer for drying the laundry; and performing the drying operation based on a selection to perform the drying operation.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein performing the hygienic operation further comprises:
outputting a notification including guide information regarding whether to proceed with the hygienic operation of the dryer based on a selection not to perform the drying operation.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein performing the hygienic operation further comprises:
based on detecting no laundry in the dryer, performing a first scenario hygienic operation or a second scenario hygienic operation according to a selection of one of a synchronization operation or a non-synchronization operation, wherein performing the first scenario hygienic operation or the second scenario hygienic operation comprises:
outputting a notification including progress information related to the second scenario hygienic operation while performing the second scenario hygienic operation.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing a plurality of actions based on the washer stopping during the hygienic operation, wherein the hygienic operation comprises (i) a first operation comprising heating and supplying air into a drum of the dryer, (ii) a second operation comprising drying the condenser of the dryer, and (ii) a third operation comprising washing the condenser of the dryer, and wherein performing the plurality of actions further comprises:
determining whether the dryer is performing the first operation included in the hygienic operation; and
performing, by the dryer, the third operation included in the hygienic operation after completing the first operation based on the first operation being performed.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein performing the plurality of actions further comprises:
determining whether the dryer is performing the second operation included in the hygienic operation based on the first operation not being performed.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein performing the plurality of actions comprises performing the third operation based on the second operation not being performed.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein performing the plurality of actions further comprises:
based on determining that the second operation is being performed, outputting a notification for selecting whether to keep performing the second operation; and maintaining performance of the second operation based on a selection to keep performing the second operation.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein performing the plurality of actions further comprises:
stopping the second operation, and draining residual water within the washer based on a selection not to keep performing the second operation.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
operably connecting the washer and the dryer to each other based on a type of the dryer among a first type dryer or a second type dryer, wherein the first type dryer is configured to switch from an active state to a power-saving state based on an elapse of a predetermined time after power is applied to the first type dryer, and the second type dryer is configured to maintain the active state after power is applied to the second type dryer.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein operably connecting the washer and the dryer to each other further comprises:
determining whether the dryer is in the power-saving state based on determining that the dryer is the first type dryer, and switching the dryer to the active state based on the dryer being in the power-saving state.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein operably connecting the washer and the dryer to each other comprises:
operably connecting the washer and the dryer to each other based on the dryer not being in the power-saving state.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein operably connecting the washer and the dryer to each other comprises:
operably connecting the washer and the dryer to each other based on the dryer being the second type dryer.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving input from a user for setting a hygiene management mode of the dryer; and performing the hygienic operation based on receiving the input from the user for setting the hygiene management mode.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Park Yonghun

Classifications

• D06F34/05

  for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control · CPC title

• D06F33/69 Primary

  Control of cleaning or disinfection of washer-dryer parts, e.g. of tubs · CPC title

• D06F33/52

  Control of the operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry · CPC title

• D06F2105/58

  Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user · CPC title

• D06F2105/52

  Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps · CPC title