Water dispensing apparatus and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016207753-A1
Application number	US-201615000315-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 19, 2016
Priority date	Jan 20, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

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 water dispensing apparatus comprising:
a dispenser housing having a recess to support a container; a nozzle provided at an upper surface of the recess; a water level detector provided at the upper inner surface and adjacent to the water nozzle, the water level detector configured to detect at least one of a level of liquid in the container or a bottom of container; a target water level input provided to input the level of water to be filled in the container; and a water level indicator provided on at least one of a first side surface or a second side surface of the recess.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the water level indicator comprises:
a target water level indicator provided at the first side surface of the recess and indicating a target water level input through the target water level input on an outer surface of the container; and a current water level indicator provided at the second side surface of the recess and indicating a current level of water filled in the container on the outer surface of the container.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the water level indicator comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes vertically spaced apart from each other and emitting light toward the outer surface of the container.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a color of the light emitted from the target water level indicator is different from a color of the light emitted from the current water level indicator.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the water level indicator comprises:
a light source which emits light toward the outer surface of the container; and a driver connected to the light source and configured to move the light source vertically to a height corresponding to a target water level or a current water level.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising an elongated opening which extends vertically along at least one of first surface or the second surface corresponding to a path along which the light source is moved up and down, wherein light emitted from the light source passes through the elongated opening and radiates on the outer surface of the container.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a cover covering the elongated opening.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein a plurality of slits are provided on the cover to be vertically spaced apart from each other, and the light emitted from the light source passes through at least one of the plurality of slits and radiates on the outer surface of the container.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a water level indicating display provided at a side of the dispenser housing to indicate a level of water filled in the container.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the water level indicating display includes a plurality of light emitting module assemblies which are disposed to be vertically spaced apart from each other.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the water level indicating display is formed to indicate all of a target water level and a current water level, and a color of light emitted from the light emitting module indicating the target water level is different from that of light emitted from the light emitting module indicating the current water level.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the water level detector comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the target water level input interface includes at least one of a plurality of input buttons enabling a touching or pressing function, a dial knob enabling a rotating and pressing function, or a touch pad enabling a touching and dragging function.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein a target water level input through an operation of the target water level input interface is indicated on an outer surface of the container by the water level indicator.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein water level values corresponding to the plurality of input buttons are set to be different from each other.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the touch pad is formed in a bar shape which extends vertically, and provided at an outside of the dispenser housing adjacent to the water level indicator.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein a height corresponding to a vertically dragged height of the touch pad is set as a target water level.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an input selector to allow selection of at least one of purified water or cold water.

19 . 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; and radiating light from a water level indicator to an outer surface of the container, and thus indicating the target water level on the outer surface of the container.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein, when there is non-detection of the container by the water level detector, receiving of the target water level is prevented.

21 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the water level detector comprises a 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.

22 . The method according to claim 19 , 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.

23 . The method according to claim 19 , 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.

24 . The method according to claim 19 , 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.

25 . The method according to claim 19 , 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.

26 . The method according to claim 19 , 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.

27 . The method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
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 rece

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc
• Lg Electronics

Inventors

• Choi Byoungsuk
• Park Shinhyun
• Kim Sun

Classifications

• B67D2210/00036

  for use with or in refrigerators · CPC title

• B67D1/0871

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

• B67D1/1238 Primary

  comprising means for detecting the liquid level in vessels to be filled, e.g. using ultrasonic waves, optical reflexion, probes · CPC title

• B67D2001/1259

  Fluid level control devices · CPC title

• B67D1/0888

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