The present disclosure provides a smart clothes drying device and a smart clothes drying method. The smart clothes drying device includes a light intensity sensor, an integrated controller, an umbrella and at least one clothes hanger. The light intensity sensor is to sense light intensity and output a light intensity signal. The integrated controller is to receive the light intensity signal and control opening or closing of the umbrella according to a comparison result of comparing the light intensity signal with a closing light intensity threshold or an opening light intensity threshold in such a manner that the integrated controller controls opening the umbrella when the light intensity signal is greater than the opening light intensity threshold, and the integrated controller controls closing the umbrella when the light intensity signal is less than the closing light intensity threshold.

A method of detecting a mechanical decoupling in a laundry appliance is provided. The laundry appliance includes a rotatable basket and a motor configured to drive the rotatable basket. The method includes determining a target rotational speed and activating the motor at a first rotational speed proportional to the determined target rotational speed. The method further includes determining an actual rotational speed after activating the motor at the first rotational speed and comparing the actual rotational speed to the target rotational speed. When the actual rotational speed is greater than the target rotational speed, the method determines that the motor is decoupled from the basket.

Laundry apparatus and methods for cleaning garments are provided. The laundry apparatus can provide one or more of: ultraviolet light, ultrasound, ozone, carbon dioxide, and a surfactant source to clean the garments. The laundry apparatus can be used to clean smart garments including one or more of electronics, electronic sensors, chips, wires, connectors, and/or conductive materials. The laundry apparatus can include an electronic control apparatus configured to transmit data corresponding to the laundry apparatus cleaning conditions and cleanliness of the garments wirelessly to an external computing device.

Disclosed are a dryer and a method of controlling the same, the dryer which is capable of: quickly and accurately determining an amount of laundry loaded in the dryer and controlling a drying operation according to the amount of the laundry: measuring a current supplied to rotate the drum and extracting a force applied to laundry in the drum to measure an amount of the laundry, thereby minimizing an error in the amount of laundry and thus enhancing accuracy of the measurement and improving a drying time; setting a drying time in consideration of both a calculated amount of laundry and a type of the laundry, such that damage to the laundry is prevented and over-drying or less-drying of the laundry is solved, thereby efficiently drying the laundry.

Provided are a device and a method for controlling automatic opening and closing of an upper cover of a washing machine. The device includes a controller and a detector. The controller is configured to control a motor to rotate to drive the upper cover to open, close or stop at a current position. The detector is connected to the controller and is configured to collect a signal indicating an obstacle between the upper cover and a tray or on one side of the upper cover facing away from the tray, and send the signal indicating the obstacle to the controller. When the existence of the obstacle between the upper cover and the tray or on the one side of the upper cover facing away from the tray is determined, the controller controls the upper cover to stop at the current position or return to an initial position.

The present disclosure concerns a method for operating or controlling an operation of a household appliance (100, 300) performed by at least one device (100, 200, 300, 400). The method includes: obtaining external information representative of at least one external given situation outside the household appliance (100, 300); and operating or controlling an operation of the household appliance (100, 300) at least taking into account the external information obtained. In addition, the present disclosure concerns a device and a system for performing such a method.

A dynamically adjustable textile dryer and method of controlling a conveyor belt speed of the textile dryer is provided. The speed of the belt is utilized to more quickly adjust the temperature of the drying chamber.

A clothes dryer apparatus and system that reduces the buildup of electric charges within a dryer drum by introducing ions. The system monitors the voltage within the drum by taking measurements on voltage sensor assembly. The sensor assembly obtains a voltage when two areas of a fabric, or two separate items of the clothing, contact the sensor. If a threshold voltage is obtained, an ion generator introduces cations and anions into the drum of the dryer to neutralize the static charge of the clothing. The reduction of static electricity increases efficiency as the clothing items do not stick together which permits better heat flow and increases safety by reducing the amount of electrical charge within the drum.

Provided is a laundry treatment apparatus which may sequentially perform pre-washing, main washing, drying, and ironing in one place. The laundry treatment apparatus includes: a pre-washer with an accommodation space which accommodates the laundry and has a sink bowl having an open top portion; a main washer which is provided beside the pre-washer; a dryer which is provided beside the main washer; an ironing part which is provided beside the dryer, and has a flat top surface to iron the laundry; a first upper panel which is provided on a top portion of the main washer and the dryer and has a flat top surface; a second upper panel which forms the top surface of the ironing part; and a lid which is provided on a top portion of the pre-washer to open and close the accommodation space.

Disclosed are a dryer and a method of controlling the same, the dryer which is capable of: determining an amount of laundry loaded in the dryer and controlling a drying operation according to the amount of laundry; measuring a current supplied to rotate the drum and extracting a force applied to laundry in the drum to measure an amount of laundry; changing a rotation direction to minimize an error in the amount of laundry, which is caused by entanglement of the laundry; performing a drying operation after determining the amount of laundry through adjustment of the rotation direction; and setting a drying time in consideration of both a calculated amount of laundry and a type of the laundry, such that damage to the laundry is prevented and over-drying or less-drying of the laundry is solved, thereby efficiently drying the laundry.