CLOTHES TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A clothes treating apparatus comprising: 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.

2. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the clothes treating apparatus to: determine a drain installation environment of the clothes treating apparatus, based on a change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum in response to the number of operations of the drain pump being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

3. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the clothes treating apparatus to: determine that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in a low-level drain installation environment, based on the change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum being equal to or less than a preset temperature.

4. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the clothes treating apparatus to: determine a dryness level of the object, based on a water level in the tub in response to determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in the low-level drain installation environment.

5. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the clothes treating apparatus to: determine that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in a high-level drain installation environment, based on the change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum exceeding a preset temperature.

6. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the clothes treating apparatus to: determine a dryness level of the object, based on the temperature of the air discharged from the drum in response to determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in the high-level drain installation environment.

7. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the clothes treating apparatus to: based on the number of operations of the drain pump being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process, finish the drying process in response to the temperature of the air discharged from the drum being equal to or higher than a preset temperature.

8. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the clothes treating apparatus to: based on the number of operations of the drain pump being less than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process, finish the drying process according to a change in water level in the tub.

9. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the clothes treating apparatus to: based on the number of operations of the drain pump being less than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process, determine a dryness level of the object according to the water level in the tub.

10. The clothes treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the clothes treating apparatus to: initially operate the drain pump to initialize the water level in the tub, based on the start of the drying process, 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 a predetermined number of times or more during a preset period of time after the initial operation of the drain pump.

11. A method performed by a clothes treating apparatus comprising 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, and a tub arranged underneath the drying device and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole, the method comprising: operating the drying device, based on a start of a drying process; operating a drain pump for draining condensate water stored in the tub, based on a water level in the tub reaching a preset water level while the drying process is in progress; and determining a dryness level of an object accommodated in a drum rotationally arranged in the tub 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.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining a drain installation environment of the clothes treating apparatus, based on a change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum in response to the number of operations of the drain pump being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in a low-level drain installation environment, based on the change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: determining a dryness level of the object based on a water level in the tub in response to determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in the low-level drain installation environment.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in a high-level drain installation environment, based on the change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum exceeding a preset temperature.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining a dryness level of the object based on the temperature of the air discharged from the drum in response to determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in the high-level drain installation environment.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising: based on the number of operations of the drain pump being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times during a present period of time after the start of the drying process, finishing the drying process in response to the temperature of the air discharged from the drum being equal to or higher than a preset temperature.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising: based on the number of operations of the drain pump being less than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process, finishing the drying process based on a change in water level in the tub.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising: based on the number of operations of the drain pump being less than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process, determining a dryness level of the object based on a water level in the tub.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising: initially operating the drain pump to initialize the water level in the tub based on the start of the drying process; and determining 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 a predetermined number of times or more during a preset period of time after the initial operation of the drain pump.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates some components arranged in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates components arranged in a clothes treating apparatus viewed from a direction different from a direction of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates a network of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a control block of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a flowchart of a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates a draining operation of a clothes treating apparatus based on a water level in a tub, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 9 illustrates water discharged from a clothes treating apparatus flowing backward according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 10 illustrates changes in water level in a tub in a case that water discharged from a clothes treating apparatus flows backward according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a flowchart of performing a drying process according to a drain installation environment where a clothes treating apparatus is installed, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 12 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus performing a drying process based on temperature of air discharged out of a drum, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 13 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus installed in a high-level drain installation environment, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

[0029] FIG. 14 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus installed in a low-level drain installation environment, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0030] Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

MODES OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0032] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0033] It is to be understood that the singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a component surface includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

[0034] In the disclosure, phrases, such as A or B, at least one of A and B, at least one of A or B, A, B or C, at least one of A, B and C, and at least one of A, B, or C may include any one or all possible combinations of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase among the phrases.

[0035] As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0036] Terms such as 1st, 2nd, primary, or secondary may be used simply to distinguish an element from other elements, without limiting the element in other aspects (e.g., importance or order).

[0037] When an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as being (functionally or communicatively) coupled or connected to another element (e.g., a second element), the first element may be connected to the second element, directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third element.

[0038] It will be understood that when the terms includes, comprises, including, and/or comprising are used in the disclosure, they specify the presence of the specified features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

[0039] When a given element is referred to as being connected to, coupled to, supported by or in contact with another element, it is to be understood that it may be directly or indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element. When a given element is indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with another element, it is to be understood that it may be connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element through a third element.

[0040] It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being on another element, it may be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

[0041] A washing machine according to various embodiments may perform washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying processes. The washing machine is an example of a clothes treating apparatus, and the clothes treating apparatus is a concept including a device capable of washing clothes (objects to be washed, and objects to be dried), a device capable of drying clothes, and a device capable of washing and drying clothes.

[0042] The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a top-loading washing machine in which a laundry inlet for inserting or removing laundry is provided to face upward, or a front-loading washing machine in which a laundry inlet is provided to face forward. The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a washing machine of a loading type other than the top-loading washing machine and the front-loading washing machine.

[0043] For the top-loading washing machine, laundry may be washed using water current generated by a rotating body such as a pulsator. For the front-loading washing machine, laundry may be washed by repeatedly lifting and lowering laundry by rotating a drum. The front-loading washing machine may include a dryer combined washing machine capable of drying laundry stored in a drum. The dryer combined washing machine may include a hot air supply device for supplying high-temperature air into the drum and a condensing device for removing moisture from air discharged from the drum. For example, the dryer combined washing machine may include a heat pump device. The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a washing machine using a washing method other than the above-described washing method.

[0044] The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a housing accommodating various components therein. The housing may be provided in the form of a box including a laundry inlet on one side thereof.

[0045] The washing machine may include a door for opening and closing the laundry inlet. The door may be rotatably mounted to the housing by a hinge. At least a portion of the door may be transparent or translucent to allow the inside of the housing to be visible.

[0046] The washing machine may include a tub disposed within the housing to store water. The tub may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a tub opening formed on one side thereof. The tub may be disposed inside the housing in such a way that the tub opening corresponds to the laundry inlet.

[0047] The tub may be connected to the housing by a damper. The damper may absorb vibration generated when the drum rotates, and the damper may reduce vibration transmitted to the housing.

[0048] The washing machine may include a drum provided to accommodate laundry.

[0049] The drum may be disposed inside the tub such that a drum opening provided on one side of the drum corresponds to the laundry inlet and the tub opening. Laundry may pass sequentially through the laundry inlet, the tub opening, and the drum opening and then be received in the drum or removed from the drum.

[0050] The drum may perform each operation according to washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying while rotating in the tub. A plurality of through holes may be formed in a cylindrical wall of the drum to allow water stored in the tub to be introduced into or to be discharged from the drum.

[0051] The washing machine may include a driving device configured to rotate the drum. The driving device may include a drive motor and a rotating shaft for transmitting a driving force generated by the drive motor to the drum. The rotating shaft may penetrate the tub to be connected to the drum.

[0052] The driving device may perform respective operations according to washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying, or drying processes by rotating the drum in a forward or reverse direction.

[0053] The washing machine may include a water supply device configured to supply water to the tub. The water supply device may include a water supply pipe and a water supply valve disposed in the water supply pipe. The water supply pipe may be connected to an external water supply source. The water supply pipe may extend from an external water supply source to a detergent supply device and/or the tub. Water may be supplied to the tub through the detergent supply device. Alternatively, water may be supplied to the tub without passing through the detergent supply device.

[0054] The water supply valve may open or close the water supply pipe in response to an electrical signal from a controller. The water supply valve may allow or block the supply of water to the tub from an external water supply source. The water supply valve may include a solenoid valve configured to open or close in response to an electrical signal.

[0055] The washing machine may include the detergent supply device configured to supply detergent to the tub. The detergent supply device may include a manual detergent supply device that requires a user to enter detergent to be used for each washing, and an automatic detergent supply device that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically adds a predetermined amount of detergent during washing. The detergent supply device may include a detergent container for storing detergent. The detergent supply device may be configured to supply detergent into the tub during a water supply process. Water supplied through the water supply pipe may be mixed with detergent via the detergent supply device. Water mixed with detergent may be supplied into the tub. Detergent is used as a term including detergent for pre-washing, detergent for main washing, fabric softener, bleach, etc., and the detergent container may be partitioned into a storage region for the pre-washing detergent, a storage region for the main washing detergent, a storage region for the fabric softener, and a storage region for the bleach.

[0056] The washing machine may include a drainage device configured to discharge water contained in the tub to the outside. The drainage device may include a drain pipe extending from a bottom of the tub to the outside of the housing, a drain valve disposed on the drain pipe to open or close the drain pipe, and a pump disposed on the drain pipe. The pump may pump water from the drain pipe to the outside of the housing.

[0057] The washing machine may include a control panel disposed on one side of the housing. The control panel may provide a user interface for interaction between a user and the washing machine. The user interface may include at least one input interface and at least one output interface.

[0058] The at least one input interface may convert sensory information received from a user into an electrical signal.

[0059] The at least one input interface may include a power button, an operation button, a course selection dial (or a course selection button), and a washing/rinsing/spin-drying setting button. The at least one input interface may include a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone.

[0060] The at least one output interface may visually or audibly transmit information related to the operation of the washing machine to a user.

[0061] For example, the at least one output interface may transmit information related to a washing course, operation time of the washing machine, and washing/rinsing/spin-drying settings to the user. Information about the operation of the washing machine may be output via a screen, an indicator, or a voice. The at least one output interface may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, or a speaker.

[0062] The washing machine may include a communication module for wired and/or wireless communication with an external device.

[0063] The communication module may include at least one of a short-range wireless communication module and a long-range wireless communication module.

[0064] The communication module may transmit data to an external device (e.g., a server, a user device, and/or a home appliance) or receive data from the external device. For example, the communication module may establish communication with a server and/or a user device and/or a home appliance, and transmit and receive various types of data.

[0065] For the communication, the communication module may establish a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the external devices, and support the performance of the communication through the established communication channel. According to an embodiment, the communication module may include a wireless communication module (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module may communicate with an external device through a first network (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network such as a legacy cellular network, a fifth generation (5G) network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated as a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as a plurality of separate components (e.g., multiple chips).

[0066] The short-range wireless communication module may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication module, a near field communication module, a wireless LAN (WLAN) (Wi-Fi) communication module, and a Zigbee communication module, an IrDA communication module, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication module, an ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0067] The long-range wireless communication module may include a communication module that performs various types of long-range wireless communication, and may include a mobile communication circuitry. The mobile communication circuitry transmits and receives radio signals with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server in a mobile communication network.

[0068] According to an embodiment, the communication module may communicate with an external device such as a server, a user device and other home appliances through an access point (AP). The AP may connect a LAN, to which a washing machine or a user device is connected, to a WAN to which a server is connected. The washing machine or the user device may be connected to the server via the WAN. The controller may control various components of the washing machine (e.g., the drive motor, and the water supply valve). The controller may control various components of the washing machine to perform at least one operation including water supply, washing, rinsing, and/or spin-drying according to a user input. For example, the controller may control the drive motor to adjust the rotational speed of the drum or control the water supply valve of the water supply device to supply water to the tub.

[0069] The controller may include hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU) or memory, and software such as a control program. For example, the controller may include at least one memory for storing an algorithm and program-type data for controlling the operation of components in the washing machine, and at least one processor configured to perform the above-mentioned operation by using the data stored in the at least one memory. The memory and the processor may each be implemented as separate chips. The processor may include one or more processor chips or may include one or more processing cores. The memory may include one or more memory chips or one or more memory blocks. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be implemented as a single chip.

[0070] A clothes treating apparatus according to various embodiments will now be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification, a washing machine is taken as an example of the clothes treating apparatus, but the disclosure is not limited to the washing machine and may be equally applied to various devices for treating and/or managing clothes.

[0071] The terms front or forward, rear, back or backward, left and right as herein used are defined with respect to the drawings, but the terms may not restrict the shape and position of the respective components.

[0072] For example, an X-axis direction may be defined as a front-back direction, a Y-axis direction may be defined as a left-right direction, and a Z-axis direction may be defined as a vertical direction.

[0073] It should be appreciated that the blocks in each flowchart and combinations of the flowcharts may be performed by one or more computer programs which include instructions. The entirety of the one or more computer programs may be stored in a single memory device or the one or more computer programs may be divided with different portions stored in different multiple memory devices.

[0074] Any of the functions or operations described herein can be processed by one processor or a combination of processors. The one processor or the combination of processors is circuitry performing processing and includes circuitry like an application processor (AP, e.g. a central processing unit (CPU)), a communication processor (CP, e.g., a modem), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU) (e.g., an artificial intelligence (AI) chip), a Wi-Fi chip, a Bluetooth chip, a global positioning system (GPS) chip, a near field communication (NFC) chip, connectivity chips, a sensor controller, a touch controller, a finger-print sensor controller, a display driver integrated circuit (IC), an audio CODEC chip, a universal serial bus (USB) controller, a camera controller, an image processing IC, a microprocessor unit (MPU), a system on chip (SoC), an IC, or the like.

[0075] FIG. 1 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0076] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0077] FIG. 3 illustrates some components arranged in a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0078] FIG. 4 illustrates components arranged in a clothes treating apparatus viewed from a direction different from a direction of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0079] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a clothes treating apparatus 1 according to various embodiments may include a housing 10 that accommodates various components therein. The housing 10 may be provided in the form of a box with a laundry inlet 11 formed on one side. The laundry inlet 11 may be arranged to face substantially forward.

[0080] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a laundry door 17 to open or close the laundry inlet 11. The laundry door 17 may be rotationally mounted on the housing 10 through a hinge. At least a portion of the laundry door 17 may be transparent or translucent for the inside of the housing 10 to be seen. For example, the laundry door 17 may include tempered glass.

[0081] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a lower door 18 to allow access to a lower detergent supplier 60. The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include an upper door 19 to allow access to an upper detergent supplier 50 and a filter 95.

[0082] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a tub 20 arranged in the housing 10 to store water. The tub 20 is provided in a substantially cylindrical form with a tub opening 21 formed on one side, and may be arranged in the housing 10 such that the tub opening 21 is arranged to correspond to the laundry inlet 11. The tub opening 21 may be arranged to face substantially forward.

[0083] The tub 20 may be connected to the housing 10 by a damper 25. The damper 25 may absorb vibrations produced when a drum 30 is rotated, to dampen the vibrations carried to the housing 10.

[0084] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the drum 30 arranged to accommodate the laundry. At least one lifter 33 may be arranged in the drum 30 to do the laundry by lifting and dropping the laundry.

[0085] The drum 30 may be arranged in the tub 20 such that a drum opening 31 arranged on one side corresponds to the laundry inlet 11 and the tub opening 21. The laundry may pass the laundry inlet 11, the tub opening 21 and the drum opening 31 in sequence to be accommodated in the drum 30 or taken out of the drum 30. The drum opening 31 may be arranged to face substantially forward.

[0086] The drum 30 may be rotated in the tub 20 to perform an operation of a washing, rinsing and/or dehydrating process. Multiple through holes 32 may be formed at the cylindrical wall of the drum 30 for the water stored in the tub 20 to flow into or out of the drum 30.

[0087] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a driving device 36 configured to rotate the drum 30. The driving device 36 may include a motor, and a rotation shaft for carrying driving force produced from the motor to the drum 30. The rotation shaft may pass through the tub 20 to be connected to the drum 30.

[0088] The driving device 36 may rotate the drum 30 forward or rearward to perform an operation of a washing, rinsing and/or dehydrating or drying process.

[0089] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a water supply device 40 configured to supply water to the tub 20. The water supply device 40 may include water supply valves 41 and 42 connectable to an external water source. For example, the water supply valves 41 and 42 may include the hot water supply valve 41 for supplying hot water and the cold water supply valve 42 for supplying cold water.

[0090] The water supply device 40 may include water supply tubes 43 and 44. The water supply tubes 43 and 44 may be connected to the water supply valves 41 and 42. For example, the water supply tubes 43 and 44 may be formed as a hose or pipe of a flexible material.

[0091] For example, the water supply tubes 43 and 44 may include a hot water supply tube 43 connected to the hot water supply valve 41 and a cold water supply tube 44 connected to the cold water supply valve 42. At least one of the water supply tubes 43 and 44 may guide water from the water supply valve 41 or 42 to the tub 20. At least one of the water supply tubes 43 and 44 may extend from the water supply valve 41 or 42 to the tub 20. The water may be supplied into the lower detergent supplier 60 through the tub 20. Alternatively, the water may be supplied into the lower detergent supplier 60 without passing through the tub 20.

[0092] The water supply valve 41 or 42 may open or close a water supply tube 43 or 44 in response to an electric signal from a controller. The water supply valve 41 or 42 may allow or block the supply of water to the tub 20 from the external water source. The water supply valve 41 or 42 may include, for example, a solenoid valve that is opened or closed in response to an electric signal.

[0093] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the detergent suppliers 50 and 60 configured to supply a detergent to the tub 20. The detergent supplier 50 or 60 may include the upper detergent supplier 50 and the lower detergent supplier 60. The term detergent may encompass a detergent for prewashing, a detergent for main washing, a fabric softener, a bleaching agent, etc.

[0094] The upper detergent supplier 50 may be located on top of the tub 20. The upper detergent supplier 50 may be located farther above than the tub 20. The upper detergent supplier 50 may include a manual detergent supplier that requires the user to throw in the detergent each time the user does the laundry, or an automatic detergent supplier that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically put in a certain amount of detergent for laundry. The upper detergent supplier 50 may be connected to the tub 20 through a detergent connection tube 51. For example, the upper detergent supplier 50 may be arranged to supply a solid laundry detergent and/or softener to the tub 20. The type of the detergent is not, however, limited thereto.

[0095] The lower detergent supplier 60 may be located under the tub 20. The lower detergent supplier 60 may be located farther down than the tub 20 in the gravity direction. The lower detergent supplier 60 may include a manual detergent supplier that requires the user to throw in the detergent each time the user does the laundry, or an automatic detergent supplier that stores a large amount of detergent and automatically put in a certain amount of detergent for laundry. For example, the lower detergent supplier 60 may be arranged to supply a liquid laundry detergent and/or softener to the tub 20. The type of the detergent is not, however, limited thereto.

[0096] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a drain device 70 configured to drain the water accommodated in the tub 20 to the outside. The drain device 70 may include a drain pump 71 for discharging the water in the tub 20 out of the housing 10.

[0097] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a circulation pump 76 to circulate the water in the tub 20 to the lower detergent supplier 60 and back to the tub 20.

[0098] The drain device 70 may be connected to the tub 20 through a tub connection tube 72. The drain device 70 may discharge the water in the tub 20 out of the housing 10 through a drain tube 73.

[0099] A connection hose 121a may be connected to a branch tube 72a of the tub connection tube 72 to detect the water level in the tub 20 through a change in pressure. The connection hose 121a may be connected to a water level sensor 121 installed underneath the upper detergent supplier 50.

[0100] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a control panel 15 arranged on one side of the housing 10. The control panel 15 may provide a user interface that allows the user to interact with the clothes treating apparatus 1.

[0101] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a drying device 80 for drying the laundry accommodated in the drum 30. The drying device 80 may be configured to heat air and supply the heated air into the tub 20. The drying device 80 may be configured to dry and heat the air discharged from the tub 20, and circulate the dried and heated air into the tub 20 to dry the clothes in the drum 30. In various embodiments, the drying device 80 may be arranged on top of the tub 20.

[0102] The drying device 80 may include a dry case 81 in which a heat pump system for drying the air may be installed. The dry case 81 may include a dry base 81a, and a dry cover 81b coupled to the dry base 81a to form a flow path in which the air may be moved. The dry cover 81b may cover an open top of the dry base 81a.

[0103] In various embodiments, the drying device 80 may include the heat pump system. The heat pump system may include a compressor 91, a heat exchanger 92 and 93 (condenser 92 and evaporator 93), an expansion valve and a refrigerant tube 94 in which a refrigerant is circulated.

[0104] The compressor 91, the condenser 92, the evaporator 93, etc., which make up the heat pump system may be arranged in the dry case 81. For example, the drying device 80 may include a cooling fan 91a for cooling the compressor 91. For example, the drying device 80 may be mounted as a single module.

[0105] The compressor 91 may compress the refrigerant, and the compressed hot and high-pressure refrigerant may move to the condenser 92. The condenser 92 may heat the surrounding air by cooling the refrigerant. The heated air may flow into the drum 30 to dry the clothes.

[0106] The refrigerant that has expanded while going through the expansion valve may cool the surrounding air by absorbing heat in the evaporator 93. In other words, the evaporator 93 may remove the moisture by cooling hot and humid air that has passed through the drum 30. The air deprived of the moisture passes the condenser 92, and may be reheated by exchanging heat with the refrigerant passing the condenser 92. In other words, the condenser 92 may heat the air that has passed the evaporator 93.

[0107] For example, the drying device 80 may further include a drying heater 99. The drying heater 99 may increase dry efficiency of the drying device 80. For example, the drying device 80 may even replace the heat pump components by the drying heater 99.

[0108] The drying heater 99 may heat the air flowing into the drying device 80. The drying heater 99 may be arranged in a heating path 86. The drying heater 99 may be placed farther downstream than the condenser 92 in a flow of the air passing through the drying device 80. Furthermore, the drying heater 99 may be provided in a relatively small size so as to minimize flow path resistance. For example, the drying heater 99 may be a sheath heater.

[0109] In various embodiments, the drying device 80 may be arranged on top of the tub 20. An inflow path 85 into which the air discharged from the tub 20 flows may be formed in the drying device 80. A heating path 86 in which the air flowing into the drying device 80 through the inflow path 85 exchanges heat may be formed in the drying device 80. A supply path 87 through which the air having exchanged heat while passing the heating path 86 is supplied to the tub 20 may be formed in the drying device 80.

[0110] The inflow path 85 may be arranged for the air that has passed through the tub 20 to flow into the drying device 80. The inflow path 85 may be located above the tub 20. The inflow path 85 may be connected to an exhaust path P formed in the back of the tub 20.

[0111] The drying device 80 may include an inflow guide 84 connected to the tub 20. The inflow guide 84 may guide the air discharged from the tub 20 to the inflow path 85. The inflow path 85 may be connected to the exhaust path P formed in the tub 20 through the inflow guide 84. The air that has passed the exhaust path P may flow into the inflow path 85 of the drying device 80 through the inflow guide 84.

[0112] A filter 95 may be arranged in the inflow path 85 to filter off foreign materials such as lint contained in the air flowing in through the exhaust path P from the tub 20. The air flowing into the inflow path 85 may move to the heating path 86 after passing through the filter 95.

[0113] The condenser 92 and the evaporator 93 may be arranged in the heating path 86. The air flowing into the heating path 86 may be hot and humid because the air has passed through the tub 20. The hot and humid air may be cooled in the evaporator 93 arranged in the heating path 86, and thus the moisture therein may be removed. The air with the moisture removed therefrom in the evaporator 93 may be reheated while passing the condenser 92.

[0114] The drying device 80 may include a cleaning device 96 for cleaning the condenser 92 and/or the evaporator 93. The cleaning device 96 may be arranged in the heating path 86. The cleaning device 96 may receive water from the water supply device 40 and spray the water toward the condenser 92 and/or the evaporator 93.

[0115] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a drain line 97 for guiding the water discharged from the drying device 80. The drain line 97 may guide the water sprayed by the cleaning device 96 for cleaning the heat exchanger 92 and 93 out of the drying device 80.

[0116] Furthermore, the drain line 97 may guide the condensate water produced from the heat exchanger 92 and 93 of the drying device 80 out of the drying device 80. The drain line 97 may be connected to the drain device 70. The water discharged from the drying device 80 may flow along the drain line 97 to the drain device 70. For example, the condensate water may flow into the drain pump 71 from the drying device 80 along the drain line 97 formed between the dry case 81 and the drain pump 71. The drain line 97 may be formed with a hose, pipe, duct, etc., to form a condensate water path in which the condensate water may be moved. The drain line 97 may be connected to the drain hole and the drain pump 71 formed at the dry base 81a. The condensate water may be discharged from the drying device 80 through the drain hole, may pass the drain line 97 and flow into the drain pump 71. The condensate water flowing into the drain pump 71 may be stored in a lower portion of the tub 20 through the tub connection tube 72. Hence, the condensate water produced during the drying process may be stored in the lower portion of the tub 20. The condensate water may not be drained as soon as it is stored in the lower portion of the tub 20.

[0117] The supply path 87 may be arranged to supply the air heated while passing through the condenser 92 back into the tub 20. The supply path 87 may be connected to the heating path 86, and may extend downward to discharge the heated air to the opening of the tub 20.

[0118] A fan 87a may be arranged in the supply path 87 to move the air into the tub 20. Specifically, the fan 87a may move the air to be supplied to the laundry in the drum 30, and deliver the air in the drum 30 to the drying device 80. For example, the fan 97a may include a sirocco fan.

[0119] The inflow path 85, the heating path 86 and the supply path 87 may circulate the air in the tub 20 and to the drying device 80.

[0120] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may have the air discharged from the tub 20 pass the inflow path 85, heating path 86 and supply path 87 of the drying device 80 located on the tub 20 in sequence and be supplied into the tub 20.

[0121] In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include the exhaust path P in which the air discharged from inside the tub 20 flows to the drying device 80. The exhaust path P may be connected to the inflow path 85 of the drying device 80.

[0122] The exhaust path P may be arranged to discharge humid air that has passed and come out of the tub 20. For example, the exhaust path P may be arranged in the back of the tub 20.

[0123] In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a tub duct 28 to form at least a portion of the exhaust path P. For example, the tub duct 28 may be integrally formed with the tub 20. For example, the tub 20 may include the tub duct 28.

[0124] In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a duct cover 29 to form at least a portion of the exhaust path P. The duct cover 29 may be arranged to cover the open rear side of the tub duct 28. For example, the tub 20 may include the duct cover 29. The duct cover 29 may form at least a portion of the exhaust path P in which the air discharged through a tub exhaust 27 flows to the drying device 80.

[0125] In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may have the exhaust path P formed when the tub duct 28 is coupled to the duct cover 29.

[0126] In an embodiment, the tub duct 28 may include a recess 28a that forms a portion of the exhaust path P in which the air discharged from inside the tub 20 flows. A tub exhaust 27 may be formed in the recess 28a to discharge the air from inside the tub 20.

[0127] In an embodiment, the tub duct 28 may include a duct connector 28b that forms the other portion of the exhaust path P in which the air that has passed the recess 28a flows. The duct connector 28b may protrude outward from the circumferential surface of the tub 20 in the radial direction. The duct connector 28b may protrude substantially upward from the circumferential surface of the tub 20. For example, the duct connector 28b may protrude substantially upward from a rear end of the tub 20. It is not, however, limited thereto, and the duct connector 28b may be in various locations depending on the location of the drying device 80.

[0128] The duct connector 28b may connect the inflow guide 84 of the drying device 80 to the tub duct 28. The duct connector 28b may extend the exhaust path P upward. The duct connector 28b may form a portion of the exhaust path P along with the recess 28a and the duct cover 29.

[0129] The duct connector 28b may be formed in the shape of a rectangular box with open upper and rear sides. The duct cover 29 may cover the open rear side of the duct connector 28b. The duct cover 29 may allow only one side of the exhaust path to be formed and coupled, thereby simplifying the coupling and sealing mechanism.

[0130] The duct cover 29 may cover the tub duct 28 and the duct connector 28b. The duct cover 29 may cover an open side of the tub duct 28 and the open rear side of the duct connector 28b. The exhaust path P may be formed when the duct cover 29 covers the recess 28a and the duct connector 28b. As the exhaust path P is connected to the inflow path 85, the air flowing into the exhaust path P through the tub exhaust 27 may move along the exhaust path P and flow into the drying device 80 through the inflow path 85.

[0131] Although not shown, the duct connector 28b may be shaped like a rectangular box having only the upper side opened and the rear side closed. In this case, the duct cover 29 may only cover the tub duct 28.

[0132] In the meantime, in an embodiment of the disclosure, the duct connector 28b may have a structure included in the tub duct 28. In an embodiment, the duct connector 28b of the tub duct 28 may extend from the recess 28a to the inflow guide 84. The tub duct 28 may be connected by the duct connector 28b to the inflow guide 84. The duct connector 28b in an embodiment of the disclosure will now be described as having a structure included in the tub duct 28.

[0133] The tub duct 28 may include a step portion 28c to expand the cross-sectional area of the exhaust path P. The exhaust path P may be arranged to have the width of a portion formed by the duct connector 28b larger than the width of a portion formed by the recess 28a due to the step portion 28c.

[0134] The air in the tub 20 may be discharged to the tub duct 28 through the tub exhaust 27 formed in the tub 20. The air discharged to the tub duct 28 may move along the exhaust path P to be supplied to the drying device 80.

[0135] The air heated in the drying device 80 may be supplied into the drum 30. To ensure an area where the heated air supplied into the drum 30 comes into contact with the laundry, the tub exhaust 27 may be arranged in an opposite location to the air inlet 26 through which the air heated by the drying device 80 is supplied to the tub 20. To make the more heated air come into contact with the laundry by increasing the movement distance and/or time of the heated air in the drum 30, the tub exhaust 27 may be arranged in the opposite location to the air inlet 26 through which the air heated by the drying device 80 is supplied to the tub 20. The supply path 87 for supplying the heated air into the drum 30 may be arranged to be spaced from the tub exhaust 27. An increase in area where the heated air and the laundry contact may improve the dry efficiency.

[0136] As such, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may heat air through the drying device 80 arranged on the top of the tub 20 and supply the air into the drum 30.

[0137] The drying device 80 may dry and heat the air discharged from the drum 30, and circulate the dried and heated air into the drum 30 to dry the clothes in the drum 30.

[0138] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may have the air discharged from the drum 30 pass the inflow path 85, heating path 86 and supply path 87 of the drying device 80 in sequence and be supplied into the drum 30.

[0139] The air that has passed through the drum 30 may pass the exhaust path P formed in the back of the tub 20 and flow into the inflow path 85 of the drying device 80 connected to the exhaust path P.

[0140] The air flowing into the inflow path 85 may be heated while passing through the heating path 86 of the drying device 80. The hot and humid air flowing into the heating path 86 may be cooled in the evaporator 93 arranged in the heating path 86 and deprived of moisture, and then reheated while passing the condenser 92.

[0141] The heated air that has passed the heating path 86 may be supplied back into the drum 30 through the supply path 87 connected to the heating path 86.

[0142] As such, the inflow path 85, the heating path 86 and the supply path 87 may circulate the air into the drum 30 and to the drying device 80.

[0143] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include a temperature sensor 122 for detecting temperature of air discharged from the drum 30. The temperature sensor 122 may be arranged in the inflow path 85 to detect the temperature of hot and humid air discharged from the drum 30 and flowing into the drying device 80.

[0144] In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may further include a temperature sensor arranged to detect the temperature of air flowing into the drum 30. The temperature sensor may be arranged in the supply path 87 to detect the temperature of the air heated in the drying device 80 and supplied into the drum 30.

[0145] In various embodiments, the clothes care apparatus 1 may include a water heater 24. The water heater may be equipped underneath the tub 20 to heat the water for doing the laundry.

[0146] FIG. 5 illustrates a network of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0147] Referring to FIG. 5, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may communicate with another home appliance (not shown), a user device 2 or a server 3.

[0148] The other home appliance may be at least one of various kinds of home appliances. For example, the other home appliance may include at least one of a refrigerator, a dish washer, an electric range, an electric oven, an air conditioner, a washing machine, a dryer, or a microwave oven, but is not limited thereto, and may include various types of home appliances such as a cleaning robot, a vacuum cleaner, a television, etc., not shown in the drawing. The aforementioned home appliances are merely an example.

[0149] The server 3 may include a communication module for communicating with another server, the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2, at least one processor for processing data received from the other server, the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2, and at least one memory for storing a program for processing data or storing the processed data. The server 3 may be implemented with various computing devices such as a workstation, a cloud, a data drive, a data station, etc. The server 3 may be implemented with one or more servers physically or logically classified based on function, sub-configuration of the function or data, and may transmit or receive data through inter-server communication and process the data.

[0150] The server 3 may perform functions, such as managing a user account, registering the clothes treating apparatus 1 by connecting the clothes treating apparatus 1 to the user account, and managing or controlling the registered clothes treating apparatus 1. For example, the user may access the server 3 through the user device 2 to create a user account. The user account may be identified by an identity (ID) and a password created by the user. The server 3 may register the clothes treating apparatus 1 with the user account according to a set procedure. For example, the server 3 may connect identification information (e.g., a serial number, a media access control (MAC) address, etc.) of the clothes treating apparatus 1 to the user account to register, manage and control the clothes treating apparatus 1.

[0151] The user device 2 may include a communication module for communicating with the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the server 3, a user interface for receiving user inputs or outputting information for the user, at least one processor for controlling operations of the user device 2, and at least one memory for storing a program for controlling the operations of the user device 2.

[0152] The user device 2 may be carried by the user or placed at the user's home or office. The user device 2 may include a personal computer, a terminal, a portable telephone, a smart phone, a handheld device, a wearable device, etc., without being limited thereto.

[0153] In the memory of the user device 2, a program for controlling the clothes treating apparatus 1, i.e., an application, may be stored. The application may be sold in a state of being installed in the user device 2, or may be downloaded and installed from an external server.

[0154] The user may access the server 3 and create a user account by running the application installed in the user device 2, and sign up the clothes treating apparatus 1 by communicating with the server 3 based on the login user account.

[0155] For example, when the clothes treating apparatus 1 is operated to access the server 3 according to a procedure guided in the application installed in the user device 2, the server 3 may register the clothes treating apparatus 1 with the user account by registering the identification information (e.g., a serial number or a MAC address) of the clothes treating apparatus 1 with the user account.

[0156] The user may use the application installed in the user device 2 to control the clothes treating apparatus 1. For example, when the user logs in on the user account with the application installed in the user device 2, the clothes treating apparatus 1 registered with the user account may appear thereon, and when a control command is input for the clothes treating apparatus 1, the control command may be forwarded to the clothes treating apparatus 1 through the server 3.

[0157] A network may include both a wired network and a wireless network. The wired network may include a cable network or a telephone network, and the wireless network may include any network that transmits or receives signals in radio waves. The wired network and the wireless network may be connected to each other.

[0158] The network may include a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN) formed around an access point (AP), and a short-range wireless network without an AP. The short-range wireless network may include Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, near field communication (NFC), Z-wave, etc., without being limited thereto.

[0159] The AP may connect the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2 to the WAN connected to the server 3. The clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2 may be connected to the server 3 through the WAN.

[0160] The AP may use wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), etc., to communicate with the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2, and use wired communication to access the WAN, but is not limited thereto.

[0161] In various embodiments, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may be directly connected to the user device 2 or the server 3 without passing through the AP.

[0162] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may be connected to the user device 2 or the server 3 over a long-range wireless network or a short-range wireless network.

[0163] For example, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may be connected to the user device 2 over a short wireless network (e.g., Wi-Fi direct).

[0164] In another example, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may use the long-range wireless network (e.g., a cellular communication module) to be connected to the user device 2 or the server 3 through the WAN.

[0165] In another example, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may connect to the WAN by using wired communication, and connect to the user device 2 or the server 3 through the WAN.

[0166] When the clothes treating apparatus 1 is able to access the WAN through the wired communication, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may also operate as an AP. Accordingly, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may connect another home appliance to the WAN to which the server 3 is connected. Furthermore, the other home appliance may connect the clothes treating apparatus 1 to the WAN to which the server 3 is connected.

[0167] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may transmit information about the operation or status to another home appliance, the user device 2 or the server 3 over the network. For example, on receiving a request from the server 3 or when a particular event occurs in the clothes treating apparatus 1, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may transmit the information about the operation or the status to the other home appliance, the user device 2 or the server 3 periodically or in real time. On receiving the information about the operation or status from the clothes treating apparatus 1, the server 3 may update information about the operation or status that has been stored, and transmit the updated information about the operation and status of the clothes treating apparatus 1 to the user device 2 over the network. The updating of the information may include various operations to change the existing information such as adding new information to the existing information, replacing the existing information with new information, etc.

[0168] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may obtain various information from another home appliance, the user device 2 or the server 3, and provide the obtained information to the user. For example, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may obtain information about a function of the clothes treating apparatus 1 (e.g., cooking instructions, washing instructions, etc.) or various environmental information (e.g., weather, temperature, humidity, etc.), and output the obtained information through the user interface.

[0169] The clothes treating apparatus 1 may operate according to a control command received from another home appliance, the user device 2 or the server 3. For example, when the clothes treating apparatus 1 has won prior approval of the user to operate according to a control command of the server 3 even without having a user input, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may operate according to the control command received from the server 3. The control command received from the server 3 may include a control command input by the user through the user device 2, a control command based on a preset condition or the like, without being limited thereto.

[0170] The user device 2 may transmit information about the user to the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the server 3 through the communication module. For example, the user device 2 may transmit information about a location of the user, a physical condition of the user, a preference of the user, a schedule of the user, etc., to the server 3. The user device 2 may transmit the information about the user to the server 3 according to prior approval of the user.

[0171] The clothes treating apparatus 1, the user device 2 or the server 3 may determine a control command by using a technology such as artificial intelligence (AI). For example, the server 3 may receive information about the operation or status of the clothes treating apparatus 1 or information about the user of the user device 2, process the information by using a technology such as AI, and transmit a result of the processing or a control command to the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2 based on the result of the processing.

[0172] FIG. 6 illustrates a control block of a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0173] Referring to FIG. 6, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the driving device 36, the water supply device 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain device 70, the drying device 80, the fan 87a, a user interface device 100, a communicator 110, a sensor module 120 and a controller 130.

[0174] The driving device 36 may include a motor 36a provided to rotate the drum 30. The driving device 36 may rotate the drum 30 forward or rearward by driving the motor 36a to perform respective operations of a washing process, a rinsing process and/or a dehydrating process, a drying process or a drying process alone.

[0175] The user interface device 100 may include at least one input interface 101 and at least one output interface 102.

[0176] The at least one input interface 101 may convert sensory information received from the user into an electric signal.

[0177] The at least one input interface 101 may include a power button, an operation button, a process selection dial (or process selection buttons) and washing/rinsing/dehydrating/drying/drying-only setting buttons. The at least one input interface 101 may include, for example, a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, a touch switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, a jog dial, and/or a microphone.

[0178] The at least one output interface 102 may visually or acoustically provide the user with information relating to an operation of the clothes treating apparatus 1.

[0179] For example, the at least one output interface 102 may deliver information relating to an operation time of the clothes treating apparatus 1 and a washing/drying process, and washing settings/rinsing settings/dehydrating settings/drying settings/drying-only settings to the user. The information relating to an operation of the clothes treating apparatus may be output through a screen, an indicator, a voice, etc. The at least one output interface 102 may include, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a light emitting diode (LED) panel, a speaker, etc.

[0180] The communicator 110 may include at least one communication module. The communication module may support establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between external devices, and communication through the established communication channel. According to an embodiment, the communication module may include a wireless communication module (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power-line communication module). A corresponding one of the communication modules may communicate with an external device over a first network (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (e.g., a remote communication network such as a legacy cellular network, a fifth generation (5G) network, a next generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or wide area network (WAN)). These various types of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as a plurality of separate components (e.g., a plurality of chips).

[0181] The short-range communication module may include a Bluetooth communication module, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication module, a near field communication (NFC) module, a WLAN, e.g., Wi-Fi, communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication module, a Wi-Fi direct (WFD) communication module, an ultrawideband (UWB) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, etc., without being limited thereto.

[0182] The long-range communication module may include a communication module for performing various types of long-range communication and include a mobile communication module. The mobile communication module transmits and receives RF signals to and from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, or a server in a mobile communication network.

[0183] In an embodiment, the communication module may communicate with an external device such as a server 3, a user device 2, another home appliance, etc., through a nearby AP. The AP may connect a local area network (LAN) connected to the clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2 to a wide area network (WAN) connected to the server. The clothes treating apparatus 1 or the user device 2 may be connected to the server 3 through the WAN.

[0184] The sensor module 120 may include at least one sensor for obtaining information relating to a state of the clothes treating apparatus 1. The sensor module 120 may send sensor data collected by the at least one sensor to the controller 130.

[0185] In an embodiment, the sensor module 120 may include the water level sensor 121 for detecting a water level in the tub 20 and the temperature sensor 122 for detecting the temperature of air discharged from the drum 30.

[0186] The water level sensor 121 may be installed at an end of the connection hose 121a connected to the tub connection tube 72. In this case, the water level in the connection hose 121a may be equivalent to the water level in the tub 20. As the water level in the tub 20 increases, the water level in the connection hose 121a increases, and due to the increase of the water level in the connection hose 121a, internal pressure of the connection hose 121a may increase.

[0187] The water level sensor 121 may detect pressure in the connection hose 121a and output an electric signal corresponding to the detected pressure to the controller 130. The controller 130 may obtain a water level in the connection hose 121a, i.e., a water level in the tub 20, based on the pressure in the connection hose 121a detected by the water level sensor 121.

[0188] For example, the water level sensor 121 may detect a frequency that changes by the pressure in the connection hose 121a.

[0189] In an embodiment, the controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 by analyzing the frequency (water level frequency) of an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the water level sensor 121.

[0190] In the meantime, the water level sensor 121 may be installed on the inner side of the bottom of the tub 20. As the water level in the tub 20 increases, the pressure applied to the water level sensor 121 increases, and accordingly, the water level sensor 121 may detect a frequency changing by the water level when the drum 30 rotates.

[0191] In an embodiment, the controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 by analyzing the frequency (water level frequency) of an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the water level sensor 121.

[0192] The controller 130 may obtain the temperature of the air discharged out of the drum 30 from an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the temperature sensor 122.

[0193] In an embodiment, the controller 130 may control the driving device 36, the water supply device 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain device 70, the drying device 80, the fan 87a, etc., to perform at least one process including the washing process, the rinsing process, the dehydrating process and/or the drying process.

[0194] In an embodiment, the controller 130 may control the rotation speed of the motor 36a to control the rotation speed of the drum 30.

[0195] In an embodiment, the controller 130 may control the rotation speed of the fan 87a to control a circulation rate of the air inside or outside the drum 30.

[0196] The controller 130 may be electrically connected to the driving device 36, the water supply device 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain device 70, the drying device 80, the fan 87a, the user interface device 100, the communicator 110, the water level sensor 121 and the temperature sensor 122.

[0197] The controller 130 may be comprised of hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a micom, memory, or the like, and software such as a control program.

[0198] The controller 130 may be implemented to include at least one memory 132 that stores an algorithm for controlling operations of the components in the clothes treating apparatus 1, and at least one processor 131 for performing the aforementioned operations using the data stored in the at least one memory 132. In this case, the memory 132 and the processor 131 may be implemented in separate chips. Alternatively, the memory 132 and the processor 131 may be implemented in a single chip.

[0199] The processor 131 may process an output signal of the driving device 36, the water supply device 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain device 70, the drying device 80, the user interface device 100, the communicator 110, the water level sensor 121 and/or the temperature sensor 122, and may include an operation circuit, memory circuit and a control circuit for outputting a control signal to the driving device 36, the water supply device 40, the detergent suppliers 50 and 60, the drain device 70, the drying device 80, the user interface device 100, the communicator 110, etc., based on the processing of the output signal.

[0200] The memory 132 may include a volatile memory, such as a static random access memory (S-RAM), a dynamic RAM (D-RAM), or the like, and a non-volatile memory, such as a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM) or the like.

[0201] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a flowchart of a method of controlling a clothes treating apparatus, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0202] Referring to FIG. 7, the controller 130 may start a drying process, in operation 200.

[0203] The drying process may be started after at least one of a washing process, a rinsing process and a dehydrating process is performed.

[0204] The controller 130 may operate the drying device 80 when a drying process is started, in operation 210.

[0205] The controller 130 may initially operate the drain pump 71 to initialize the water level in the tub 20 when the drying process is started. When the drying process is started, the controller 130 may initialize the water level in the tub 20 by initially operating the drain pump 71 to drain the condensate water stored in the tub 20.

[0206] When the drying process is started, the controller 130 may perform the drying process by operating the fan 87a and the compressor 91 of the heat pump system. As the fan 87a and the compressor 91 operate, hot and dry air may be supplied to an object accommodated in the drum 30 to be dried.

[0207] Hot and humid air discharged from the drum 30 during the drying process is cooled in the evaporator 93, in which case condensate water is produced while the moisture in the air is condensed. The condensate water may flow into the tub 20. For example, the condensate water may flow into the drain pump 71 from the drying device 80 along the drain line 97 that connects the drain hole formed at the dry case 81 to the drain pump 71. The condensate water may be discharged from the drying device 80 through the drain hole, may pass the drain line 97 and flow into the drain pump 71. The condensate water flowing into the drain pump 71 may be stored in a lower portion of the tub 20 through the tub connection tube 72. Hence, the condensate water produced during the drying process may be stored in the lower portion of the tub 20. The condensate water may not be drained as soon as it is stored in the lower portion of the tub 20. Draining may be performed when the water level of the condensate water reaches a preset water level.

[0208] In an embodiment, the water level sensor 121 may detect the water level in the tub 20. In an embodiment, an increase in water level in the tub 20 may lead to an increase in water level in the connection hose 121a. Due to the increase in water level in the connection hose 121a, pressure in the connection hose 121a may be increased. The water level sensor 121 may detect the pressure in the connection hose 121a. Hence, the water level sensor 121 may detect a frequency that changes by the pressure in the connection hose 121a. The controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 by analyzing the frequency (water level frequency) of an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the water level sensor 121.

[0209] The controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 based on an output value of the water level sensor 121 during the drying process, in operation 220.

[0210] The controller 130 may determine whether the water level in the tub 20 is equal to or higher than the preset water level, in operation 230. For example, the preset water level may be a drain water level at which the drain pump 71 of the drain device 70 operates.

[0211] When the water level in the tub 20 does not reach the preset water level in operation 230, the controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 again in operation 220.

[0212] In response to the water level in the tub 20 reaching the preset water level in operation 230, the controller 130 may operate the drain pump 710 in operation 240. For example, when the water level in the tub 20 reaches the drain water level (e.g., 24,600 Hz or less) at which the drain pump 71 operates in the drying process, the controller 130 operates the drain pump 71 to discharge the condensate water stored in the tub 20.

[0213] FIG. 8 illustrates a draining operation of a clothes treating apparatus based on a water level in a tub, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0214] Referring to FIG. 8, the vertical axis on the left represents water level frequencies, and the vertical axis on the right represents rotation speeds of the drain pump 71. The horizontal axis represents time.

[0215] The water level sensor 121 may usually detect a lower water level frequency the higher the water level in the tub 20, and a higher water level frequency the lower the water level in the tub 20.

[0216] While in a state of the condensate water in the tub 20 being completely drained, represented is a water level frequency of around 25,300 Hz.

[0217] When the water level in the tub 20 reaches the drain water level (e.g., 24,600 Hz or less) at which the drain pump 71 operates, the drain pump 71 operates and the condensate water stored in the tub 20 is drained.

[0218] After this, the procedure in which the condensate water produced again while the drying process is performed is stored in the tub 20 is repeated. It may be seen that a residual water content of the object accommodated in the drum 30 is reduced as the drain interval increases.

[0219] Turning back to FIG. 7, the controller 130 may count the number of operations of the drain pump 71, in operation 250. The controller 130 may store the number of operations of the drain pump 71 in the memory 132.

[0220] The controller 130 may determine whether the number of operations of the drain pump 71 during a preset period of time after the start of the drying process is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times, in operation 260.

[0221] When the number of operations of the drain pump 71 during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process is not equal to nor greater than the predetermined number of times in operation 260, the controller 130 may determine the dryness level of the object to be dried based on the water level in the tub 20 in operation 270.

[0222] For example, when the number of operations of the drain pump 71 within five minutes after the start of the drying process is less than two, the dryness level of the object to be dried may be determined based on the water level in the tub 20. The controller 130 may determine a dryness level corresponding to a water level value and a change in water level in the tub 20 as the dryness level of the object to be dried. When the dryness level of the object reaches a preset dryness level, the controller 130 may finish the drying process. In various embodiments, the controller 130 may finish the drying process when the water level in the tub 20 is lower than a first water level and the change in water level is lower than a first change.

[0223] When the number of operations of the drain pump 71 during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times in operation 260, the controller 130 may determine the dryness level of the object to be dried based on the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 in operation 280. For example, when the number of operations of the drain pump 71 within five minutes after the start of the drying process is two or more, the dryness level of the object to be dried may be determined based on the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 instead of the water level in the tub 20. The controller 130 may determine a dryness level corresponding to the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 as the dryness level of the object to be dried. When the dryness level of the object reaches a preset dryness level, the controller 130 may finish the drying process.

[0224] In various embodiments, when the number of operations of the drain pump 71 during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times, the controller 130 may finish the drying process based on the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30. For example, the controller 130 may finish the drying process when the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 is higher than preset temperature.

[0225] FIG. 9 illustrates water discharged from a clothes treating apparatus flowing backward according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0226] Referring to FIG. 9, in general, e.g., 20 minutes into the drying process, the water level in the tub 20 first reaches a drain level, and after a draining process, the water level in the tub 20 may repetitively reach the drain level.

[0227] However, when the drain pump 71 repeatedly operates two times or more as the water level in the tub 20 repeatedly reaches the drain level two times or more within e.g., five minutes, after the drain pump 71 operates after the start of the drying process or at the beginning of the drying process, it may be due to a backflow of some of the discharged water to the drain pump 71 instead of flowing to the outside because the clothes treating apparatus 1 is installed in a high-level drain installation environment where the water that has been discharged might flow backward due to the high position of a drain hole (see FIG. 9).

[0228] When the clothes treating apparatus 1 is installed in the high-level drain installation environment, a drain hose 73a coupled to the drain tube 73 of the clothes treating apparatus 1 is connected to the drain hole located at a height of e.g., 8 ft (2.43 m) or 9 ft (2.74 m) or more, possibly causing some of the water discharged through the drain tube 73 to flow backward to the drain tube 73. The water flowing backward increases pressure of the connection hose 121a connected to the tub connection tube 72, and this affects the water level in the tub 20.

[0229] Hence, the water that has flown backward may be mistaken as condensate water produced in the drying process. Accordingly, when the dryness level of the object to be dried is determined based on the water level in the tub 20, the drying process may not be finished at a right time.

[0230] FIG. 10 illustrates changes in water level in a tub in a case that water discharged from a clothes treating apparatus flows backward according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0231] Referring to FIG. 10, the controller 130 may initialize the water level in the tub 20 by operating the drain pump 71 at time to after the start of a drying process to drain the condensate water stored in the tub 20.

[0232] The controller 130 may obtain the water level in the tub 20 by analyzing the frequency (water level frequency) of an electric signal corresponding to an output value of the water level sensor 121 after the start of the drying process or after the drain pump 71 operates to initialize the tub water level.

[0233] When the water level in the tub 20 reaches the drain level (e.g., 24,600 Hz or less), the controller 130 may discharge the condensate water stored in the tub 20 by operating the drain pump 71 from time to t0 time t1.

[0234] The controller 130 may detect the water level in the tub 20 through the water level sensor 121 after the drain pump 71 operates.

[0235] When the water level in the tub 20 reaches the drain level again, the controller 130 may discharge the condensate water stored in the tub 20 again by operating the drain pump 71 from time t1 to t2. For example, the time t0 to t2 may correspond to five minutes.

[0236] After this, the controller 130 may repeatedly discharge the condensate water stored in the tub 20 by repeatedly operating the drain pump 71 each time the water level in the tub 20 reaches the drain level again from time t2 to time t9.

[0237] In general, in a case that the clothes treating apparatus 1 is installed in a low-level drain installation environment (e.g., an environment where the drainage is installed at a height of less than 8 ft (3.43 m) or 9 ft (2.74 m)), which is a normal drain installation environment, e.g., 20 minutes into the drying process, the water level in the tub 20 may first reach the drain level at which the drain pump 71 may operate.

[0238] Hot and humid air discharged from the drum 30 during the drying process is cooled in the evaporator 93, in which case condensate water is produced from the moisture in the air being condensed. The condensate water may be discharged from the drying device 80 through the drain hole, may pass the drain line 97 and flow into the drain pump 71. The condensate water flowing into the drain pump 71 may be stored in a lower portion of the tub 20 through the tub connection tube 72. The condensate water produced during the drying process may be stored in the lower portion of the tub 20.

[0239] As such, as condensation proceeds after the temperature of the air coming out of the drying device 80 rises and takes moisture from the object to be dried, it may take at least 20 minutes for the water level in the tub 20 to first reach the drain level and operate the drain pump 71.

[0240] However, when the water level in the tub 20 repeatedly reaches the drain level two times or more within e.g., five minutes, after the start of the drying process or after the drain pump 71 operates at the beginning of the drying process, the water level in the tub 20 may not mean a normal condensate water. It is because the water level in the tub 20 does not sufficiently reach the drain level to operate the drain pump 71 because the water is condensed within five minutes after the start of the drying process.

[0241] For example, an amount of water required to reach the drain level at which to operate the drain pump 71 in the low-level drain installation environment may be about 500 ml. 1 L or more of condensate water is required within five minutes to operate the drain pump 71 two or more times within five minutes. Considering the specification of the clothes treating apparatus 1, it is not possible to condense the water into 1 L or more of condensate water within five minutes after the start of the drying process. Hence, it may be understood that the water level in the tub 20 has increased not by an increase in condensate water but for another reason.

[0242] In a case that the clothes treating apparatus 1 is installed in a high-level drain installation environment where backflow of discharged water occurs, the water level in the tub 20 may increase repeatedly by the water flowing backward. Hence, within five minutes after the start of the drying process, the drain pump 71 may operate two or more times.

[0243] When the clothes treating apparatus 1 is installed in a high-level drain installation environment where discharged water is likely to flow backward due to the drain hole being located at a high level, some of the discharged water may not be discharged to the outside but may flow backward to the side of the drain pump 71. The water flowing backward may increase pressure of the connection hose 121a connected to the tub connection tube 72, and this may increase the water level in the tub 20.

[0244] For this reason, the water flowing backward is mistaken as condensate water produced in the drying process, causing the drain pump 71 to repeatedly operate, so a change in water level in the tub 20 may not be accurately determined. As such, in the high-level drain installation environment, the drain pump 71 operates repeatedly, which may keep increasing the drying time. This may make the drying process unnecessarily linger even when the object to be dried is sufficiently dried.

[0245] Hence, in an embodiment of the disclosure, when the number of operations of the drain pump 71 within five minutes after the start of the drying process is two or more, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may determine the dryness level of the object based on the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 instead of the water level in the tub 20. In other words, in the high-level drain installation environment, the dryness level may be determined by using the temperature of air discharged from the drum 30 that is not affected by the water flowing backward instead of the water level in the tub 20 that is affected by the water flowing backward.

[0246] As such, even when the clothes treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure is installed in the high-level drain installation environment, the dryness level of the object to be dried may be accurately and reliably determined, thereby preventing the drying process from lingering unnecessarily.

[0247] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a flowchart of performing a drying process according to a drain installation environment where a clothes treating apparatus is installed, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0248] Referring to FIG. 11, the controller 130 may determine whether the number of operations of the drain pump 71 during a preset period of time after the start of the drying process is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times, in operation 300.

[0249] When the number of operations of the drain pump 71 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times during a preset period of time after the start of the drying process in operation 300, the controller 130 may detect the temperature of air discharged from the drum 30 through the temperature sensor 122 and determine whether a change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 exceeds a preset temperature in operation 302.

[0250] FIG. 12 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus performing a drying process based on temperature of air discharged out of a drum, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0251] Referring to FIG. 12, when the number of operations of the drain pump 71 is two or more within five minutes after the start of the drying process, the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 may be detected through the temperature sensor 122 not to be affected by the water level in the tub 20 in order to determine whether to dry an object that has too much water content because no dehydration has been performed.

[0252] Turning back to FIG. 11, when the change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 exceeds the preset temperature, the controller 130 may determine that the drain installation environment is a high-level drain installation environment (e.g., installed at a height of 8 ft (2.43 m) or 9 ft (2.74 m) or more) where the discharged water might flow backward because the drain hole is placed at a high level, in operation 304.

[0253] For example, assuming that the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 at the start of the drying process is called an initial temperature, when the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 exceeds the initial temperature by 1 C., the clothes treating apparatus 1 may be determined as being installed in the high-level drain installation environment.

[0254] FIG. 13 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus installed in a high-level drain installation environment, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0255] Referring to FIG. 13, when the clothes treating apparatus 1 is installed in the high-level drain installation environment, i.e., when the drain hose 73a coupled to the drain tube 73 of the clothes treating apparatus 1 is connected to a drain hole 400 located at a height of e.g., 8 ft (2.43 m) or 9 ft (2.74 m) or more, a portion of water discharged through the drain tube 73 may flow backward to the drain tube 73.

[0256] The water flowing backward increases pressure of the connection hose 121a connected to the tub connection tube 72, and this affects the water level in the tub 20.

[0257] Hence, when the clothes treating apparatus 1 is installed in the high-level drain installation environment, the water flowing backward is likely to be mistaken as condensate water produced in the drying course.

[0258] Turning back to FIG. 11, when an object with too much water content because no dehydration has been performed is to be dried, a lot of water falling out of the object may be stored in a lower portion of the tub 20. The water falling out of the object is mistaken as condensate water produced in the drying process, which may cause the drain pump 71 to repeatedly operate. Hence, the change in water level in the tub 20 may not be accurately determined. To exclude these situations, whether a change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 exceeds a preset temperature may be determined.

[0259] For example, even though the drain pump 71 operates two or more times within five minutes after the start of the drying process for an object that has not undergone dehydration, the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 may exceed the initial temperature not by 1 C. but within 1 C.

[0260] The heated air supplied into the drum 30 from the drying device 80 may come into contact with the object accommodated in the drum 30 and absorb the moisture from the object, and then flow into the drying device 80. When the object contains a lot of water, the air absorbs more moisture. As the air absorbs more moisture, more thermal energy in the air is used for evaporation of the water. In the water evaporation process, the air loses heat, so the temperature of the air drops.

[0261] As such, the more water the object contains, the further the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 decreases. On the other hand, the less water the object contains, the higher the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 is kept.

[0262] Hence, even though the drain pump 71 may operate two or more times within five minutes after the start of the drying process for an object that has not undergone dehydration, the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 may not exceed the initial temperature by 1 C.

[0263] When the clothes treating apparatus 1 is determined as being installed in the high-level drain installation environment, the controller 130 may detect the temperature of the air detected from the drum 30 through the temperature sensor 122, in operation 306.

[0264] The controller 130 may determine the dryness level of the object based on the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 instead of the water level in the tub 20, in operation 308.

[0265] The controller 130 may determine a dryness level corresponding to the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 as the dryness level of the object to be dried.

[0266] The controller 130 may determine whether the dryness level of the object exceeds a preset dryness level, in operation 310.

[0267] When the dryness level of the object exceeds the preset dryness level in operation 310, the controller 130 may finish the drying process, in operation 312.

[0268] When the dryness level of the object is equal to or less than the preset dryness level in operation 310, the controller 130 may continue the drying process in 314.

[0269] In the meantime, when, during a preset period of time after the start of the drying process, the number of operations of the drain pump 71 is less than a predetermined number of times in operation 300, or a change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 is equal to or less than a preset temperature in operation 302, the controller 130 may determine that the drain installation environment of the clothes treating apparatus 1 is a low-level drain installation environment where the height of the drain hole is so low (e.g., at a height of less than 8 ft (2.43 m) or 9 ft (2.74 m)) that the discharged water does not flow backward in operation 316.

[0270] For example, when the number of operations of the drain pump 71 is less than two within five minutes after the start of the drying process, or a change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 is within 1 C. as compared to the initial temperature, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may be determined as being installed in a low-level drain installation environment.

[0271] FIG. 14 illustrates a clothes treating apparatus installed in a low-level drain installation environment, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0272] Referring to FIG. 14, when the clothes treating apparatus 1 is installed in the low-level drain installation environment, i.e., when the drain hose 73a coupled to the drain tube 73 of the clothes treating apparatus 1 is connected to a drain hole 400 located at a height of e.g., less than 8 ft (2.43 m) or 9 ft (2.74 m), the water discharged through the drain tube 73 does not flow backward to the drain tube 73.

[0273] Turning back to FIG. 11, the controller 130 may obtain a water level in the tub 20 through the water level sensor 121, in operation 318.

[0274] The controller 130 may determine a dryness level of the object based on the water level in the tub 20, in operation 320.

[0275] The controller 130 may determine a dryness level corresponding to a water level value and a change in water level in the tub 20 as the dryness level of the object.

[0276] The controller 130 may determine whether the dryness level of the object exceeds a preset dryness level, in operation 310. When the dryness level of the object exceeds the preset dryness level in operation 310, the controller 130 may finish the drying process, in operation 312. When the dryness level of the object is equal to or less than the preset dryness level in operation 310, the controller 130 may continue the drying process in operation 314.

[0277] As such, even when the clothes treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure is installed in the high-level drain installation environment, dryness level of the object to be dried may be accurately and reliably determined, thereby preventing the drying process from lingering unnecessarily.

[0278] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the clothes treating apparatus 1 may include the drying device 80 including the heat exchanger 92 or 93, the compressor 91, the fan 97a, and a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger 92 or 93; the tub 20 arranged underneath the drying device 80 and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole; the drain pump 71 configured to drain the condensate water stored in the tub 20; the water level sensor 121 configured to detect a water level in the tub 20; the drum 30 rotationally arranged in the tub 20; a temperature sensor 122 configured to detect temperature of air discharged from the drum 30; memory 132 storing instructions, and one or more processors 131 communicatively coupled to the drying device 80, the drain pump 71, the water level sensor 121, the temperature sensor 122, and the memory 132, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 131 individually or collectively, cause the clothes treating apparatus 1 to operate the drying device 80, based on a start of a drying process, operate the drain pump, based on the water level in the tub 20 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 30, based on a number of operations of the drain pump being a predetermined number of times or more during a preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

[0279] The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 131 individually or collectively, may further cause the clothes treating apparatus 1 to determine a drain installation environment of the clothes treating apparatus, based on a change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 in response to the number of operations of the drain pump being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

[0280] The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 131 individually or collectively, may further cause the clothes treating apparatus 1 to determine that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in a low-level drain installation environment, based on the change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 being equal to or less than a preset temperature.

[0281] The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 131 individually or collectively, may further cause the clothes treating apparatus 1 to determine a dryness level of the object, based on a water level in the tub 20 in response to determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in the low-level drain installation environment.

[0282] The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 131 individually or collectively, may further cause the clothes treating apparatus 1 to determine that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in a high-level drain installation environment, based on the change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 exceeding the preset temperature.

[0283] The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 131 individually or collectively, may further cause the clothes treating apparatus 1 to determine a dryness level of the object, based on the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 in response to determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in the high-level drain installation environment.

[0284] The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 131 individually or collectively, may further cause the clothes treating apparatus 1 to finish the drying process in response to the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 being equal to or higher than the preset temperature, based on the number of operations of the drain pump being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

[0285] The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 131 individually or collectively, may further cause the clothes treating apparatus 1 to finish the drying process according to a change in water level in the tub 20, based on the number of operations of the drain pump 71 being less than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

[0286] The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 131 individually or collectively, may further cause the clothes treating apparatus 1 to determine a dryness level of the object according to a water level in the tub 20, based on the number of operations of the drain pump being less than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

[0287] The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 131 individually or collectively, may further cause the clothes treating apparatus 1 to initially operate the drain pump 71 to initialize the water level in the tub 20, based on the start of the drying process, and determine a dryness level of an object accommodated in the drum 30 according to temperature of air discharged out of the drum 30, based on a number of operations of the drain pump being a predetermined number of times or more during a preset period of time after the initial operation of the drain pump 71.

[0288] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of controlling the clothes treating apparatus 1 including the drying device 80 including the heat exchanger 92 or 93, the compressor 91 and the fan 97a and having a drain hole formed to drain condensate water produced by the heat exchanger 92 or 93; and the tub 20 arranged underneath the drying device 80 and storing the condensate water drained through the drain hole may include operating the drying device 80, based on, start of a drying process; operating the drain pump 71 for draining condensate water stored in the tub 20, based on a water level in the tub 20 reaching a preset water level while the drying process is in progress; and determining a dryness level of an object accommodated in the drum 30 rotationally arranged in the tub 20 according to temperature of air discharged out of the drum 30, based on a number of operations of the drain pump 71 being a predetermined number of times or more during a preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

[0289] The method may further include determining a drain installation environment of the clothes treating apparatus, based on a change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 in response to the number of operations of the drain pump being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times during the present period of time after the start of the drying process.

[0290] The method may further include determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in a low-level drain installation environment, based on the change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 being equal to or less than a preset temperature.

[0291] The method may further include determining a dryness level of the object, based on a water level in the tub 20 in response to determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in the low-level drain installation environment.

[0292] The method may further include determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in a high-level drain installation environment, based on the change in temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 exceeding the preset temperature.

[0293] The method may further include determining a dryness level of the object based on the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 in response to determining that the clothes treating apparatus is installed in the high-level drain installation environment.

[0294] The method may further include finishing the drying process, based on the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 30 being equal to or higher than a preset temperature in response to the number of operations of the drain pump being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times during the present period of time after the start of the drying process.

[0295] The method may further include finishing the drying process, based on a change in water level in the tub 20 in response to the number of operations of the drain pump 71 being less than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

[0296] The method may further include determining a dryness level of the object, based on a water level in the tub 20 in response to the number of operations of the drain pump being less than the predetermined number of times during the preset period of time after the start of the drying process.

[0297] The method may further include initially operating the drain pump 71 to initialize the water level in the tub 20, based on the start of the drying process, and determining a dryness level of an object accommodated in the drum 30 according to temperature of air discharged out of the drum 30, based on a number of operations of the drain pump being a predetermined number of times or more during a preset period of time after the initial operation of the drain pump 71.

[0298] Meanwhile, the embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented in the form of a storage medium for storing instructions to be carried out by a computer. The instructions may be stored in the form of program codes, and when executed by a processor, may generate program modules to perform operation in the embodiments of the disclosure.

[0299] The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. The term non-transitory storage medium may mean a tangible device without including a signal, e.g., electromagnetic waves, and may not distinguish between storing data in the storage medium semi-permanently and temporarily. For example, the non-transitory storage medium may include a buffer that temporarily stores data.

[0300] In an embodiment of the disclosure, the aforementioned method according to the various embodiments of the disclosure may be provided in a computer program product. The computer program product may be a commercial product that may be traded between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a storage medium (e.g., a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), through an application store (e.g., Play Store), directly between two user devices (e.g., smart phones), or online (e.g., downloaded or uploaded). In the case of the online distribution, at least part of the computer program product (e.g., a downloadable app) may be at least temporarily stored or arbitrarily created in a storage medium that may be readable to a device such as a server of the manufacturer, a server of the application store, or a relay server.

[0301] While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.