An apparatus includes at least one of an actuator or a heater, and a controller that controls the at least one of the actuator or the heater. The controller: obtains an application defined by a plurality of blocks that drive the at least one of the actuator or the heater, each of the plurality of blocks including a parameter for driving the at least one of the actuator or the heater; consults a first rule that defines a first parameter range within which the at least one of the actuator or the heater is not permitted to be driven, and modifies the application by changing at least one block included in the plurality of blocks, the at least one block including a parameter included in the first parameter range; and drives the at least one of the actuator or the heater based on the modified application.

An apparatus includes at least one of an actuator or a heater, and a controller that controls the at least one of the actuator or the heater. The controller: obtains an application defined by a plurality of blocks that drive the at least one of the actuator or the heater, each of the plurality of blocks including a parameter for driving the at least one of the actuator or the heater; consults a first rule that defines a first parameter range within which the at least one of the actuator or the heater is not permitted to be driven, and modifies the application by changing at least one block included in the plurality of blocks, the at least one block including a parameter included in the first parameter range; and drives the at least one of the actuator or the heater based on the modified application.

A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes: a display; a communication interface; and a processor, wherein the processor controls the display to display a user interface (UI) for overall control of the washing machine and a dryer connected to the washing machine in communication based on a first user input selecting a washing course being received, identifies a drying course of the dryer based on the washing course selected by the first user input and a control option selected by a second user input based on the second user input selecting one of the plurality of control options included in the UI being received, and control the communication interface to transmit information corresponding to the identified drying course.

A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes: a display; a communication interface; and a processor, wherein the processor controls the display to display a user interface (UI) for overall control of the washing machine and a dryer connected to the washing machine in communication based on a first user input selecting a washing course being received, identifies a drying course of the dryer based on the washing course selected by the first user input and a control option selected by a second user input based on the second user input selecting one of the plurality of control options included in the UI being received, and control the communication interface to transmit information corresponding to the identified drying course.

Methods and systems of load balancing a heat pump in fluid communication with a plurality of combination washing and drying machines are disclosed. A method of loading balancing the heat pump includes receiving, at a controller, a cycle status of each one of a plurality of combination washing and drying machines, identifying an available machine, determining, based on one or more load characteristics, a washing and drying cycle duration of a load of laundry. The controller is configured to determine a cycle start time of the available machine based on the determined cycle duration and temperature profiles, a cycle status of each one of the remainder of the plurality of machines, and staggering washing and drying cycles between the identified available one of the plurality of machines and the remainder of the plurality of machines to balance load on the heat pump.

A control circuit for a washing machine appliance is provided. The control circuit includes a ground detection circuit configured to receive a test signal from a test ground path. The control circuit further includes a controller configured to determine a grounding state of a subwasher of the washing machine appliance based at least in part on the test signal. The test ground path operatively couples the ground detection circuit to the subwasher.

A control circuit for a washing machine appliance is provided. The control circuit includes a ground detection circuit configured to receive a test signal from a test ground path. The control circuit further includes a controller configured to determine a grounding state of a subwasher of the washing machine appliance based at least in part on the test signal. The test ground path operatively couples the ground detection circuit to the subwasher.

A clothes treating apparatus is provided. The clothes treating apparatus includes a drying device including a heat exchanger, a compressor, a fan, and a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger, a tub arranged underneath the drying device and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole, a drain pump configured to drain the condensate water stored in the tub, a water level sensor configured to detect a water level in the tub, a drum rotationally arranged in the tub, a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of air discharged from the drum, memory storing instructions, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the drying device, the drain pump, the water level sensor, the temperature sensor, and the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the clothes treating apparatus to operate the drying device, based on a start of a drying process, operate the drain pump, based on the water level in the tub reaching a preset water level while the drying process is in progress, and determine a dryness level of an object accommodated in the drum according to temperature of air discharged out of the drum, based on a number of operations of the drain pump being equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times during a preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

A clothes treating apparatus is provided. The clothes treating apparatus includes a drying device including a heat exchanger, a compressor, a fan, and a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger, a tub arranged underneath the drying device and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole, a drain pump configured to drain the condensate water stored in the tub, a water level sensor configured to detect a water level in the tub, a drum rotationally arranged in the tub, a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of air discharged from the drum, memory storing instructions, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the drying device, the drain pump, the water level sensor, the temperature sensor, and the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the clothes treating apparatus to operate the drying device, based on a start of a drying process, operate the drain pump, based on the water level in the tub reaching a preset water level while the drying process is in progress, and determine a dryness level of an object accommodated in the drum according to temperature of air discharged out of the drum, based on a number of operations of the drain pump being equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times during a preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

A method of operating a laundry appliance may include a step locking the laundry appliance. The method also may include a step of projecting acoustic waves. The acoustic waves may be modulated to carry an indicium of the laundry appliance. The acoustic waves may be projected by the laundry appliance. The method may also include a step of receiving the acoustic waves by a remote user interface device. The method may further include creating a session of the laundry appliance. The method may additionally include activating the laundry appliance after creating the session of the laundry appliance.