Dishwasher and method for controlling same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024016363-A1
Application number	US-202318373411-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 27, 2023
Priority date	Apr 16, 2021
Publication date	Jan 18, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dishwasher including a tub forming a washing chamber; a drying device disposed outside of the tub and including an inlet through which air from the washing chamber is introduceable, a flow channel in which air from the washing chamber introduced through the inlet flows, a fan that is operable to cause air from the washing chamber to be introduced through the inlet to flow in the flow channel, a heater in the flow channel to heat air in the flow channel, an outlet through which air in the flow channel is discharged to the washing chamber, and a temperature sensor between the heater and the outlet; and at least one processor configured to operate the fan based on a start of a drying cycle and to determine an initial operation time point of the heater during the drying cycle based on temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A dishwasher comprising:
a tub forming a washing chamber; a drying device disposed outside of the tub, the drying device including:
an inlet through which air from the washing chamber is introduceable,
a flow channel in which air from the washing chamber introduced through the inlet flows,
a fan that is operable to cause air from the washing chamber to be introduced through the inlet to flow in the flow channel,
a heater in the flow channel to heat air in the flow channel,
an outlet through which air in the flow channel is discharged to the washing chamber, and
a temperature sensor between the heater and the outlet to detect a temperature of air in the flow channel; and
at least one processor configured to operate the fan based on a start of a drying cycle and to determine an initial operation time point of the heater during the drying cycle based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

2 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to control on/off of the heater to prevent the temperature detected by the temperature sensor from exceeding a reference temperature during the drying cycle.

3 . The dishwasher of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to control on/off of the heater so that a period during which the heater is turned on is longer than a period during which the heater is turned off.

4 . The dishwasher of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to, in response to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor with the heater in an ON state exceeding the reference temperature, turn off the heater for a remaining time of the drying cycle.

5 . The dishwasher of claim 2 , wherein
the at least one processor is configured to
repeat an operation of turning on the heater for a preset on-period and turning off the heater for a preset off-period, and
in response to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor with the heater in an ON state exceeding the reference temperature, turn off the heater for a remaining time of the preset on-period of the heater.

6 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to initially operate the heater in response to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor falling below a reference temperature.

7 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to
initially operate the heater in response to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor falling below a first reference temperature, control on/off of the heater to prevent the temperature detected by the temperature sensor from exceeding a second reference temperature, and turn off the heater for a remaining time of the drying cycle in response to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor with the heater in an ON state exceeding the second reference temperature.

8 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to
in response to an end of the drying cycle, turn off the heater and operate the fan until the temperature detected by the temperature sensor falls below a reference temperature.

9 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein
the dishwasher includes a door configured to open and close the washing chamber, and the at least one processor is configured to
in response to an end of the drying cycle, turn off the heater and in response to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor falling below a reference temperature, open the door.

10 . The dishwasher of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate the fan for a preset time after the door is opened

11 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate the fan for a preset time by a preset number of times before the drying cycle starts.

12 . The dishwasher of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to, upon determining that the fan malfunctions before the drying cycle starts, omit the drying cycle.

13 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface configured to receive a first user input for selecting a first washing course, a second user input for adding the drying cycle for a selected washing course, and a third user input for enhancing a drying performance without adding the drying cycle for a selected washing course, wherein the at least one processor is configured to,
in response to receiving the first user input, set a target temperature of rinsing water used in a rinsing cycle to a first temperature,
in response to receiving the first user input and the second user input, set a target temperature of the rinsing water to a second temperature higher than the first temperature by a first preset temperature, and
in response to receiving the first user input and the third user input, set a target temperature of the rinsing water to a third temperature higher than the first temperature by a second preset temperature,
wherein the first preset temperature is lower than the second preset temperature.

14 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface configured to receive a first user input for selecting a first washing course, a second user input for selecting a second washing course, a third user input for adding the drying cycle for a selected washing course, wherein the at least one processor is configured to
in response to receiving the first user input, set a target temperature of rinsing water used in a rinsing cycle to a first temperature,
in response to receiving the second user input, set a target temperature of rinsing water used in a rinsing cycle to a second temperature,
in response to receiving the first user input and the third user input, set a target temperature of the rinsing water to a third temperature higher than the first temperature by a first preset temperature, and
in response to receiving the second user input and the third user input, set a target temperature of the rinsing water to a fourth temperature higher than the second temperature by a second preset temperature,
wherein the first preset temperature is different from the second preset temperature.

15 . A method for controlling a dishwasher having a tub forming a washing chamber, a drying device disposed outside of the tub, the drying device including an inlet through which air is introduceable from the washing chamber, a flow channel in which air introduced from the washing chamber through the inlet flows, a fan that is operable to cause air from the washing chamber to be introduced through the inlet to flow in the flow channel, a heater in the flow channel to heat air in the flow channel, an outlet through which air in the flow channel is discharged to the washing chamber, and a temperature sensor between the heater and the outlet to detect a temperature of air in the flow channel, the method comprising:
operating the fan based on a start of a drying cycle; and determining an initial operation time point of the heater during the drying cycle based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Sojeong
• Shin Woojin
• Kwon Jongwook
• Büsing Johannes
• Kim Jinhan
• Pak Jihyeon

Classifications

• A47L2401/20

  Time, e.g. elapsed operating time · CPC title

• A47L2401/26

  Loading door status, e.g. door latch opened or closed state · CPC title

• A47L15/0049

  Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention (arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421) · CPC title

• A47L15/0047

  Energy or water consumption, e.g. by saving energy or water · CPC title

• A47L15/48 Primary

  Drying arrangements · CPC title