DISHWASHER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THEREOF

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a body including an opening through which an object to be washed is loaded, a door to be connected with one side of the body and while the door is connected to the one side of the body, the door selectively opens and closes the body, a driving device that drives the door to be selectively opened on the body, a memory to store at least one instruction, and at least one processor configured to execute the at least one instruction, and control the driving device such that the door is opened in relation to a drying cycle, wherein the at least one processor is configured to obtain an operation state of a heating device around the dishwasher, and based on opening of the door being necessary, adjust a time point of opening the door in relation to the drying cycle based on the obtained operation state.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising: a body including an opening through which an object to be washed is loaded; a door, to be connected with one side of the body and while the door is connected to the one side of the body, the door opens and closes the opening of the body; a driving device that drives the door to be selectively opened; a memory to store at least one instruction; and at least one processor configured to execute the at least one instruction, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: obtain an operation state of a heating device around the dishwasher, obtain a time point at which the driving device is to drive the door to open in relation to a drying cycle of the dishwasher based on the obtained operation state, and control the driving device such that the driving device drives the door to open in relation to the drying cycle based on the obtained time point of opening the door.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: determine the time point at which the driving device is to drive the door to be after a predetermined time from a time point obtained based on a temperature inside the body reaching a predetermined temperature, and control the driving device such that the driving device drives the door to open at the determined time point, and based on identifying that the heating device is in operation at the time point, delay the determined time point of opening the door.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: based on identifying that the time point at which the driving device is to drive the door was delayed and the operation of the heating device having ended, determine the time point to be after the operation of the heating device has ended.

4. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: based on identifying that the time point at which the driving device is to drive the door was delayed and the operation of the heating device ended, proceed with a reheating cycle that makes the temperature inside the body to reach the predetermined temperature, and control the driving device such that the driving device drives the door to open after the predetermined time passes after proceeding with the reheating cycle.

5. The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein the predetermined temperature is a first temperature, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to: based on the time point at which the driving device is to drive the door being delayed and the temperature inside the body becoming lower than a second temperature lower than the first temperature, proceed with a reheating cycle such that the temperature inside the body reaches the first temperature.

6. The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein the predetermined temperature is a first temperature, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to: based on the time point at which the driving device is to drive the door being delayed and the temperature inside the body becoming lower than a second temperature lower than the first temperature, control the driving device such that the driving device drives the door to open.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: identify whether the heating device operates before entering the drying cycle, and based on identifying that the heating device is operating, delay proceeding with the drying cycle until the operation of the heating device is stopped.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising: a communication device configured to perform communication with an external device, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: obtain the operation state of the heating device through the heating device or a server connected with the heating device.

9. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising: a temperature sensor located in an upper part of the body, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: obtain the operation state of the heating device based on temperature information identified at the temperature sensor.

10. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising: a speaker, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: based on the door being opened or the time point of opening being delayed, control the speaker to provide notification information related to opening of the door.

11. A control method for a dishwasher including a body configured to allow an object to be washed to be loaded and a door configured to open and to close the body, the control method comprising: obtaining an operation state of a heating device around the dishwasher; obtaining a time point at which the door is to open in relation to a drying cycle of the dishwasher based on the obtained operation state; and controlling opening of the door based on the obtained time point of opening the door.

12. The control method of claim 11, wherein the obtaining the time point at which the door is to open comprises: based on the heating device not operating, determining the time point at which the door is to be open to be after a predetermined time from a time point obtained based on a temperature inside the body reaching a predetermined temperature; and based on the heating device operating, determining a time point that is delayed more than a first time from the time point based on the predetermined temperature being reached.

13. The control method of claim 12, wherein the obtaining the time point at which the door is to be open comprises: based on identifying that the time point at which the door is to be open was delayed and the operation of the heating device ended, determining a time point after the time point based on the operation of the heating device having ended.

14. The control method of claim 13, further comprising: based on identifying that the time point at which the door is to be open was delayed and the operation of the heating device having ended, proceeding with a reheating cycle that makes the temperature inside the body reach the predetermined temperature, wherein the opening the door comprises: opening the door after proceeding with the reheating cycle.

15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing at least one computer instruction executable individually or collectively by at least one processor of a dishwasher, which includes a body configured to allow an object to be washed to be loaded and a door configured to selectively open the body, to cause the dishwasher perform a control method, wherein the control method comprises: obtaining an operation state of a heating device around the dishwasher; obtaining a time point at which the door is to open in relation to a drying cycle of the dishwasher based on the obtained operation state; and controlling opening of the door based on the obtained time point of opening the door.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The aforementioned or other aspects, characteristics, and advantages of the embodiments of the disclosure will become clearer from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a diagram for illustrating an operation of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating a configuration of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 3 is a block diagram for illustrating a configuration of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 4 is a diagram for illustrating an operation of opening a door according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating an operation of opening a door according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating an operation of opening a door according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating an operation of opening a door according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface window displayed on a display according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 9 is a flow chart for illustrating a method for controlling a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 10 is a flow chart for illustrating an operation of a drying cycle of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

[0038] FIG. 11 is a diagram for illustrating a method of determining an operation state of a heating device by using a temperature sensor according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] For comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure defining the claims and their equivalents and the like, the embodiments will be illustrated in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosure includes various implementation examples for promoting understanding, but these are merely exemplary ones. Accordingly, modifications and amendments that may be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the pertinent field based on the content described in this specification need to be recognized to be also included in the scope of implementation of the disclosure. Also, functions and components that are well known may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0040] Also, the terms and the words described in the detailed description or the claims are not limited to their bibliographical meaning, but were merely used by the inventor for understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is obvious that the explanation described below regarding the various embodiments of the content of the disclosure describes exemplary embodiments, but is not used for limiting the definition of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0041] In addition, in the disclosure, singular forms such as a, an, and the should be understood as including a plurality of references, unless instructed clearly in the context. For example, a common surface should be interpreted as including one or one or more expressions.

[0042] Further, in case it is determined that in describing the disclosure, detailed explanation of related known functions or configurations may unnecessarily confuse the gist of the disclosure, the detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0043] In addition, the embodiments below may be modified in various different forms, and the scope of the technical idea of the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments below. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the disclosure more sufficient and complete, and to fully convey the technical idea of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0044] Also, the terms used in the disclosure are used just to explain specific embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the disclosure. Further, singular expressions include plural expressions, unless defined obviously differently in the context.

[0045] In addition, in the disclosure, expressions such as have, may have, include, and may include denote the existence of such characteristics (e.g.: elements such as numbers, functions, operations, and components), and do not exclude the existence of additional characteristics.

[0046] Also, in the disclosure, the expressions A or B, at least one of A and/or B, or one or more of A and/or B and the like may include all possible combinations of the listed items. For example, A or B, at least one of A and B, or at least one of A or B may refer to all of the following cases: (1) including at least one A, (2) including at least one B, or (3) including at least one A and at least one B.

[0047] In addition, the expressions first, second, and the like used in the disclosure may describe various elements regardless of any order and/or degree of importance. Also, such expressions are used only to distinguish one element from another element, and are not intended to limit the elements.

[0048] Meanwhile, the description in the disclosure that one element (e.g.: a first element) is (operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to or connected to another element (e.g.: a second element) should be interpreted to include both the case where the one element is directly coupled to the another element, and the case where the one element is coupled to the another element through still another element (e.g.: a third element).

[0049] In contrast, the description that one element (e.g.: a first element) is directly coupled or directly connected to another element (e.g.: a second element) can be interpreted to mean that still another element (e.g.: a third element) does not exist between the one element and the another element.

[0050] Also, the expression configured to used in the disclosure may be interchangeably used with other expressions such as suitable for, having the capacity to, designed to, adapted to, made to, and capable of, depending on cases. Meanwhile, the term configured to may not necessarily mean that a device is specifically designed to in terms of hardware.

[0051] Instead, under some circumstances, the expression a device configured to may mean that the device is capable of performing an operation together with another device or component. For example, the phrase a processor configured to perform A, B, and C may mean a dedicated processor (e.g.: an embedded processor) for performing the corresponding operations, or a generic-purpose processor (e.g.: a CPU or an application processor) that can perform the corresponding operations by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device.

[0052] Also, in the embodiments of the disclosure, a module or a part may perform at least one function or operation, and may be implemented as hardware or software, or as a combination of hardware and software. Also, a plurality of modules or parts may be integrated into at least one module and implemented as at least one processor, excluding a module or a part that needs to be implemented as specific hardware.

[0053] In addition, operations performed by a module, a program, or other components according to the various embodiments may be executed sequentially, in parallel, repetitively, or heuristically. Or, at least some of the operations may be executed in a different order or omitted, or other operations may be added.

[0054] Meanwhile, various elements and areas in drawings were illustrated schematically. Accordingly, the technical idea of the disclosure is not limited by the relative sizes or intervals illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0055] Hereinafter, the embodiments according to the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, such that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure belongs can easily carry out the disclosure.

[0056] Meanwhile, combinations of blocks in each flow chart and flow charts may be performed by one or more computer programs including instructions. The one or more computer programs may be stored in a single memory device on the whole, or may be divided into several parts in a plurality of different memory devices and stored.

[0057] Any functions and operations described in this specification may be processed by one processor or a combination of processors. One processor or a combination of processors may include a circuit performing processing, an application processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a communication processor (e.g., a modem), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (e.g., an AI chip), a Wi-Fi chip, a Bluetooth chip, a GPS chip, an NFC chip, a connectivity chip, a sensor controller, a touch controller, a fingerprint sensor controller, a display drive integrated circuit, 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 integrated circuit (IC), etc.).

[0058] FIG. 1 is a diagram for illustrating an operation of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 1, the dishwasher 100 includes a body 101 wherein a space for loading subjects for washing is provided. Inside the body 101, a space (or a holder) wherein tableware can be loaded may be included. The dishwasher 100 may perform an operation of washing tableware such as cups, dishes, plates, pots, frying pans, chopsticks, spoons, forks, knives, etc. placed in the space for loading tableware.

[0060] Here, the loading space is an area wherein tableware for which washing will be performed, etc. is placed, and it may also be referred to as a washing space, an inner space, the inside of a chamber, a washing area, etc. Also, the aforementioned space may consist of one area, or may be partitioned into a plurality of areas by using a plurality of holders.

[0061] Inside the body of the dishwasher 100, a holder for holding subjects for washing, a spray nozzle for spraying washing water on subjects for washing, etc. may be included. Such a body may have a space for loading the aforementioned holder (or subjects for washing) and an opening for the user to access the space.

[0062] A door 102 is arranged on the front surface of the body. The door 102 may selectively open the aforementioned space inside the body through moving such as rotating, sliding, etc. Such opening of the door 102 may proceed by power of the user, or may be performed by using power of a separate driving device. A case of using a driving device will be described below in FIG. 2.

[0063] In FIG. 1, it was illustrated that the door 102 is connected to the lower end side of the body, and moves by rotating based on the lower end side, and thereby opens the inside of the body. However, in actual implementation, the door 102 may be connected to the right side surface or the left side surface of the body, and move by rotating in left and right directions, and thereby open the inside of the body. Meanwhile, in actual implementation, a form that is opened by a sliding method but not a rotating method is also possible, and a form of using a plurality of doors but not one door is also possible.

[0064] Also, in actual implementation, the door may be implemented in a form of exposing the upper direction or a form of exposing a side surface of the dishwasher, and may also be implemented in a form of exposing a plurality of surfaces but not one surface. For example, the door may be implemented in a form of being opened as the surrounding four surfaces and the upper surface of the space wherein tableware is loaded move to the upper side on the whole.

[0065] The user may open the loading space by using the door 102 provided in one area of the body of the dishwasher 100, and load tableware inside the tableware loading space. Then, the user may close the door 102 of the dishwasher 100, and input a control instruction for proceeding with a washing operation. If such a control instruction is input, the dishwasher 100 may proceed with a washing cycle by spraying detergent and water on the tableware.

[0066] When the washing cycle is completed through such a process, a rinsing cycle and a drying cycle may be performed. Hereinafter, each cycle will be explained. Meanwhile, in actual implementation, other cycles (e.g., a sterilizing cycle, etc.) may be further included other than the aforementioned three cycles.

[0067] Here, a washing cycle is a cycle of washing tableware by spraying detergent and water. Also, a rinsing cycle is a cycle of spraying water on the inside for removing smeared detergent or remaining detergent from tableware.

[0068] Also, a drying cycle is a cycle for removing water on the surfaces of tableware, and may operate by various methods. For example, tableware inside the body may be dried by providing hot and/or dry air. Alternatively, the drying cycle may include a method of heating tableware by hot water, and exposing the heated tableware to air having relatively low humidity to dry the tableware, etc.

[0069] Such a drying cycle through exposure of the door 102 may be divided into an operation of heating tableware, an operation of waiting during a specific time, and an operation of opening the door 102 afterwards. Each cycle may be constituted in various manners according to at which temperature and for which period, etc. it will be performed, and some combinations may be provided to the user as a course. Explanation in this regard will be described below in FIG. 2.

[0070] The dishwasher according to the disclosure may operate by adopting at least one among the aforementioned methods, but hereinafter, explanation will be described based on the premise of a case wherein a method of heating tableware at a high temperature and exposing the heated tableware to air, i.e., drying tableware by opening the door 102 was adopted. However, in actual implementation, it is obvious that the dishwasher may operate as an additional another drying method is combined with the aforementioned method. That is, a method of providing hot and/or dry air to the inside together with an operation of opening the door may be applied.

[0071] In such a method of opening the door, the door is opened during a drying cycle, and thus the door gets to be exposed in the front area of the dishwasher. Also, in the illustrated example, it was illustrated that the door is opened on the whole, but the degree of opening (or the opening degree, the opening angle) may be different from the illustrated form. For example, in the processes of stocking and discharging tableware, the door may be opened on the whole as illustrated, and the aforementioned opening for drying may be in a form of having a smaller angle (or a smaller protruding degree) than the illustrated degree.

[0072] Also, the aforementioned protruding degree (or opening degree, opening angle) may vary instead of being a fixed degree. For example, in a time zone wherein the user is highly likely to use a heating device (e.g., a meal time), or in a time zone wherein the user is highly likely to enter the kitchen, opening may proceed by a minimum interval. In contrast, in a late night zone, or in case the user is out, it is possible to improve the drying effect by opening the door further than in the aforementioned case. Also, the aforementioned opening degree may vary according to not only the state of the indoor air (the temperature, the humidity), but also the weather, etc.

[0073] Meanwhile, recently, various heating devices (e.g., an induction), etc. are being released, and there are cases wherein a heating device is located in the upper part of a dishwasher for saving the space. In case a heating device is located in the upper part of a dishwasher as above, the aforementioned opening of the door may exert a negative influence on the heating device.

[0074] For example, an induction performs a culling operation of decreasing the temperature of the inner components by absorbing air from the front surface, and if the door of the dishwasher 100 is opened during the operation of the induction, hot and/or humid air inside the dishwasher is leaked to the outside, and gets to enter the inside of the adjacent induction. Such hot air may reduce the culling function inside the induction, and humid air has a possibility of generating corrosion of the inner parts.

[0075] Also, opening of the door of the dishwasher 100 during an operation of the heating device may also cause inconvenience to the user. For example, a case wherein the heating device is used is a case wherein cooking, etc. is performed. In such a cooking operation, there is a high possibility of using the front space of the dishwasher such as being located in front of the heating device, or moving in front of the heating device, etc. If the door is opened in such a state, and hot and humid air inside the dishwasher is discharged, the user may feel unpleasant by the discharged air.

[0076] For resolving such a problem, the dishwasher 100 according to the disclosure may identify an operation state of the heating device (e.g., the induction 200), and adjust a time point of opening the door (or a time point of a drying cycle) according to the identified operation state. The detailed configuration and operations of the dishwasher 100 for such an operation will be described below with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0077] The induction 200 is a heating device, and may provide heat to a cooking utensil placed on its upper part. Such an induction is a device that generates heat by reacting with a container made of a magnetic induction material by using a magnetic field. In the disclosure, an induction was illustrated as a heating device, but in actual implementation, other heating devices such as a highlight, a gas stove, etc. may be used.

[0078] A highlight is a device that can perform cooking by using heating wires heated by electricity, and a gas stove is a device that can provide heat to a cooking utensil by using gas as a heat source. In the disclosure, only an induction, a gas stove, and a highlight are suggested as examples as a heating device, but the heating device in the disclosure is not limited by them, and any device that can perform a heating operation to a cooking utensil (e.g., a microwave, an oven, a toaster, etc.) may be used other than the aforementioned devices.

[0079] Also, in the illustrated example, a case wherein the heating device is installed in the upper part of the dishwasher was assumed, but in actual implementation, there may be a case wherein the heating device is not in an installed form, but is placed on the upper area of the dishwasher. Also, there may be a case wherein the overall heating device is not placed in the upper part of the dishwasher, but only some areas overlap. Further, the disclosure may also be applied to a case wherein the heating device is arranged to be very adjacent to the dishwasher and may be influenced by opening of the door of the dishwasher, even though the heating device does not directly overlap the dishwasher.

[0080] The dishwasher 100 and the heating device 200 (the induction 200, a gas stove, a highlight) as above may be referred to as home appliances. Such home appliances may be connected to a user device or a server, etc.

[0081] Here, a user device may be carried by the user, or may be arranged in the user's home or office, etc. The user device may include a personal computer, a terminal, a portable telephone, a smartphone, a handheld device, a wearable device, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0082] Also, a server may be implemented as various computing devices such as a workstation, a cloud, a data drive, a data station, etc.

[0083] The server may be implemented as one or more servers that are physically or logically divided based on functions, detailed configurations of the functions, or data, etc., and may transmit and receive data through communication between each server, and process the transmitted and received data.

[0084] The server may perform functions such as managing a user account, registering the home appliances 100, 200 by associating them with the user account, and managing or controlling the registered home appliances 100, 200, or the like.

[0085] For example, the user may access the server through the user device, and generate a user account. The user account may be identified by an ID and a password set by the user. The server may register the home appliances 100, 200 to the user account according to a designated procedure. For example, the server may connect identification information of the home appliances 100, 200 (e.g.: serial numbers or MAC addresses, etc.) to the user account, and register, manage, and control the home appliances 100, 200.

[0086] The user device may include a communication module that can communicate with the home appliances 100, 200 or the server, a user interface that receives a user input or outputs information to the user, at least one processor that controls operations of the user device, and at least one memory that stores a program for controlling the operations of the user device.

[0087] In the memory of the user device, a program for controlling the home appliances, i.e., an application may be stored. The application may be sold while being installed in the user device, or downloaded from an external server and installed.

[0088] The user may access the server by executing the application installed in the user device, and generate a user account, and perform communication with the server based on the logged-in user account and register the home appliances 100, 200.

[0089] For example, if the user manipulates the home appliances 100, 200 such that the home appliances 100, 200 can access the server according to a procedure guided by the application installed in the user device, the server may register the home appliances 100, 200 to the user account by registering the identification information of the home appliances 100, 200 (e.g.: the serial numbers or the MAC addresses, etc.) to the user account.

[0090] The user may control the home appliances 100, 200 by using the application installed in the user device. For example, if the user logs in to the user account through the application installed in the user device, the home appliances 100, 200 registered to the user account may be displayed, and if the user inputs a control instruction for the home appliances 100, 200, the control instruction may be transmitted to the home appliances 100, 200 through the server.

[0091] Also, the server may transmit and receive information among the registered home appliances. For example, if the server receives information from the induction 200 that it is operating, the server may transmit the received information that the induction 200 is operating to the dishwasher 100. Such an operation at the server may proceed regardless of whether the dishwasher 100 is operating, or may proceed according to the operation state of the dishwasher 100. That is, as explained above, the server may provide information regarding the operation state of the induction to the dishwasher in case the induction and the dishwasher operate simultaneously, or in case it is a time point when the door of the dishwasher is expected to open during an operation of the induction, i.e., according to a determining operation of the server.

[0092] Also, the server may determine whether the induction 200 and the dishwasher 100 are arranged to be adjacent to each other. That is, the server may determine whether a time point of opening the door needs to be adjusted according to an operation state of the induction, or store the aforementioned determination result. For example, the server may determine whether to interlock the dishwasher and the induction based on the arrangement locations of them by using a result photographed at an external camera. Alternatively, the server may inquire to the user whether the heating device and the dishwasher are installed as in the form illustrated in FIG. 1 on a time point of installing the dishwasher or a time point of installing the induction. To be more specific, the dishwasher 100 or the induction 200 may be provided with information regarding the aforementioned matters in a process of registering the dishwasher 100 or the induction 200 to the user account.

[0093] Meanwhile, in the above, it was explained that the server provides an operation state of the induction to the dishwasher, but in actual implementation, the server may provide an operation state of the induction to the dishwasher in case there is a request for information of the dishwasher.

[0094] A network may include both of a wired network and a wireless network. A wired network may include a cable network or a telephone network, etc., and a wireless network may include all networks that transmit and receive signals through radio waves. A wired network and a wireless network may be connected with each other.

[0095] A network may include a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, etc., and a local area network (LAN) formed with an access point (AP) as the center, and a short-range wireless network not via an access point (AP). A short-range wireless network may include Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), Wi-Fi Direct, Near Field Communication (NFC), Z-Wave, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0096] The access point (AP) may connect the home appliances 100, 200 or the user device to a wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected. The home appliances 100, 200 or the user device may be connected to the server through the wide area network (WAN).

[0097] The access point (AP) may communicate with the home appliances 100, 200 or the user device by using wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), etc., and access the wide area network (WAN) by using wired communication, but is not limited thereto.

[0098] According to various embodiments, the home appliances 100, 200 may be directly connected to the user device or the server not through the access point (AP).

[0099] Also, the home appliances 100, 200 may be connected to the user device or the server through a long-range wireless network or a short-range wireless network.

[0100] For example, the home appliances 100, 200 may be connected to the user device through a short-range wireless network (e.g.: Wi-Fi Direct).

[0101] As another example, the home appliances 100, 200 may be connected to the user device or the server through the wide area network (WAN) by using a long-range wireless network (e.g.: a cellular communication module).

[0102] As another example, the home appliances 100, 200 may access the wide area network (WAN) by using wired communication, and may be connected to the user device or the server through the wide area network (WAN).

[0103] In case the home appliances 100, 200 can access the wide area network (WAN) by using wired communication, it may operate as an access point. Accordingly, the home appliances 100, 200 may connect another home appliance to the wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected. Also, the another home appliance may connect the home appliances 100, 200 to the wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected.

[0104] The home appliances 100, 200 may transmit information on an operation or a state to another home appliance, the user device, or the server through the network. For example, the home appliances 100, 200 may transmit information on an operation or a state to another home appliance, the user device, or the server in case a request is received from the server, or in case a specific event occurred in the home appliances 100, 200, or periodically or in real time.

[0105] When information on an operation or a state is received from the home appliances 100, 200, the server may update the information on an operation or a state of the home appliances 100, 200 that was stored, and transmit the updated information on an operation or a state of the home appliances 100, 200 to the user device through the network. Here, update of the information may include various operations wherein the previous information is changed such as an operation of adding new information to the previous information, an operation of replacing the previous information with new information, etc.

[0106] The home appliances 100, 200 may obtain various kinds of information from the another home appliance, the user device, or the server, and provide the obtained information to the user. For example, the home appliances 100, 200 may obtain information related to the functions of the home appliances 100, 200 (e.g., a recipe, a washing method, etc.), and various environmental information (e.g., the weather, the temperature, the humidity, etc.) from the server, and output the obtained information through the user interface.

[0107] The home appliances 100, 200 may operate according to a control instruction received from the another home appliance, the user device, or the server. For example, in case prior approval of the user was obtained such that the home appliances 100, 200 can operate according to a control instruction of the server even if there was no user input, the home appliances 100, 200 may operate according to the control instruction received from the server. Here, the control instruction received from the server may include a control instruction that the user input through the user device or a control instruction based on a predetermined condition, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0108] For example, in the above, it was explained that the dishwasher determines by itself a time point of opening the door and delays the opening, but in actual implementation, if the induction is operating, the server may provide an instruction for making the dishwasher 100 delay opening of the door. Also, the user device but not the server may identify a state of a home appliance that is operating, and the user device may perform the aforementioned control operation.

[0109] The user device may transmit information on the user to the home appliances 100, 200 or the server through the communication module. For example, the user device may transmit information regarding the location of the user, the user's health state, the user's preference, the user's schedule, etc. to the server. The user device may transmit the information on the user to the server according to prior approval of the user.

[0110] The home appliances 100, 200, the user device, or the server may determine a control instruction by using technologies such as artificial intelligence, etc. For example, the server may receive information on an operation or a state of the home appliances 100, 200 or receive information on the user of the user device and process the information by using technologies such as artificial intelligence, etc., and transmit the processing result or a control instruction to the home appliances 100, 200 or the user device based on the processing result.

[0111] Meanwhile, in FIG. 1, adjustment of a time point of opening the door of the dishwasher was explained by assuming a case wherein a heating tool (i.e., an induction) is located in the upper part of the dishwasher. However, in actual implementation, not only a heating tool is used in a cooking process and in using a kitchen, but there are various methods, and thus the disclosure can be applied in various environments such as a time point when the user is expected to use the upper area of the dishwasher, etc.

[0112] For example, a case wherein a sink is installed in the upper part of the dishwasher, and the user uses water in the sink may be included. Also, the aforementioned operation can be applied in case a microwave is placed in the upper area of the dishwasher, and the microwave is being used, or in case a cooking utensil such as a toaster is operating in the upper area of the dishwasher, or in case the user performs an operation of preparing food or a cooking operation (e.g., grinding food, making dough, etc.) in the upper part of the dishwasher.

[0113] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating a configuration of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0114] Referring to FIG. 2, the dishwasher 100 may include memory 110, a driving device 120, and at least one processor 130 (referred to as the processor 130 hereinafter).

[0115] The memory 110 stores various types of programs or data temporarily or non-temporarily, and transmits the stored information to the processor 130 according to a call by the processor 130. Also, the memory 110 may store various types of information necessary for an operation, and a processing or control operation, etc. of the processor 130 in electronic formats.

[0116] The memory 110 may include, for example, at least one of a main memory device or an auxiliary memory device. The main memory device may be implemented by using a semiconductor storage medium such as ROM and/or RAM. ROM may include, for example, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and/or MASK-ROM, etc. which are general. RAM may include, for example, DRAM and/or SRAM, etc. The auxiliary memory device may be implemented by using at least one storage medium that can store data permanently or semi-permanently such as a flash memory device, a secure digital (SD) card, a solid state drive (SSD), a hard disc drive (HDD), a magnetic drum, an optical recording medium like a compact disc (CD), a DVD, or a laser disc, etc., a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disc, and/or a floppy disc, etc.

[0117] The memory 110 may store instructions for at least one tableware washing course. For example, the memory 110 may store instructions for executing a standard course, an AI customized course, an eco course, a strong course, a steam soaking course, a night low noise course, an upper speedy course, a washing course for pots and frying pans, a washing course for glass cups, a plastic washing course, a baby bottle sterilization course, a rinsing and drying course, a cold water rinsing course, a drying only course, and a tub sterilization course. Such courses may include at least one cycle among the washing cycle, the rinsing cycle, and the drying cycle explained above, and may store information on the time, information on the water temperature, information on the degree of water outflow, etc. in each cycle.

[0118] The driving device 120 makes the door selectively opened on the body. Specifically, the driving device 120 may include a motor and a utensil that makes the door opened by a rotative force of the motor, and the like.

[0119] The processor 130 controls the overall operations of the dishwasher 100. Specifically, the processor 130 may be connected with the components of the dishwasher 100 including the memory 110 as described above, and control the overall operations of the dishwasher 100 by executing the at least one instruction stored in the memory 110 as described above. In particular, the processor 130 may not only be implemented as one processor 130, but may also be implemented as a plurality of processors 130.

[0120] The processor 130 may be implemented as one or more integrated circuit (or circuitry) (IC) chips, and execute various types of data processing. The processor 130 may include at least one electric circuit, and perform distributed processing of instructions (or programs, data, other, etc.) stored in the memory 110 individually or collectively.

[0121] The processor 130 may include a processor assembly including one or more processing circuits. The processor 130 may include any operative processing circuit for controlling the performance and the operations of one or more components of the dishwasher 100 (e.g.: the memory 110 and/or the driving device 120). For example, the processor 130 (e.g.: an application processor (AP)) may be implemented as a system on chip (SoC) (e.g., one chip or chipset). For example, the processor 130 may be implemented as a plurality of cores (or at least one core circuit), a plurality of chips, or a plurality of chipsets.

[0122] For example, the processor 130 may include one or more processing circuits. Also, the processor 130 may include one or more processing circuits constituted to perform several functions of the disclosure individually and/or collectively. As an unlimited example, at least a portion of the processor 130 may be included in a first chip of the dishwasher 100, and at least another portion of the processor 130 may be included in a second chip of the dishwasher 100 different from the first chip of the dishwasher 100.

[0123] For example, the processor 130 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a display controller, a memory controller, a storage controller, a communication processor (CP), and/or a sensor interface. These components of the processor 130 are merely exemplary ones. The processor 130 may further include other components in addition to the aforementioned components. Also, some components of the processor 130 may be omitted. In addition, some components of the processor 130 may be included as separate components of the dishwasher 100 outside the processor 130. For example, some components of the processor 130 (e.g.: the memory controller) may be included in the other components (e.g.: at least a portion of the memory 110, the interface (e.g.: can be used to connect to the at least one component of the dishwasher 100), the display 140).

[0124] The processor 130 may cause the other components of the dishwasher 100 to perform various operations by executing the instructions stored in the memory 110.

[0125] The processor 130 may perform a series of operations to make the subjects for washing washed. For example, in case the user selected a washing course, or in case a washing course and a washing instruction were input from an external device, the processor 130 may perform a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, a drying cycle, etc. to correspond to the washing course selected by the user.

[0126] Then, the processor 130 obtains an operation state of the induction around the dishwasher. Specifically, the processor 130 may directly communicate with the induction or communicate with the server through communication of the communication circuit 160 that will be described below, and obtain an operation state. Alternatively, the processor 130 may obtain an operation state by using the information obtained in the sensor 170 that will be described below. Explanation in this regard will be described below in FIG. 3.

[0127] Such acquisition of an operation state of the induction may be periodically performed during proceeding of a washing course, or may be performed before entering a drying cycle or performed before opening of the door.

[0128] Meanwhile, in the above, it was explained that only information on an operation state of the induction (i.e., whether the induction is in an on state or an off state) is obtained, but the processor 130 may obtain information on ending of the operation of the induction. Such information on ending may be used in case the user inputs a time point of expected ending into the induction, or in case the user set the induction such that the induction operates only during a specific time (e.g., in case the user operated the heating device with a three-minute timer like a microwave). Alternatively, the processor 130 may predict a time point when the operation of the induction is expected to end by using use pattern information of the user in the server or the user device, and use the expected time point of ending. Such an expected time point of ending may be obtained in the dishwasher 100 in itself, or information generated in the server or the user device may be obtained.

[0129] The processor 130 obtains a time point of opening the door in a drying cycle based on the obtained operation state. For example, the processor 130 may determine a time point that is after a predetermined first time from a time point when the temperature inside the body reached a predetermined first temperature after entering the drying cycle as a time point of opening the door.

[0130] If it is identified anytime during the drying cycle that the induction is operating, the processor 130 may adjust the aforementioned time point of opening the door. For example, the processor 130 may delay (or adjust) the aforementioned time point of opening the door until a time point when the operation of the induction is stopped or until it is identified that the induction is not operating. Herec, the processor 130 may extend the aforementioned time point of opening the door only to a time point when the temperature inside the door is maintained to a predetermined temperature.

[0131] If the time point of opening the door is extended as above, the heated inside temperature may gradually drop. If the inside temperature drops to a specific temperature or lower, the drying performance may deteriorate. For resolving such a phenomenon, there may be a method of delaying the time point of opening the door only to a specific time point as explained above, or reheating may be periodically performed, or a reheating operation may be performed again on a time point when the operation of the induction is stopped. Regarding various forms of operations like this, explanation will be described below with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 6.

[0132] Meanwhile, in the above, it was explained that a time point of opening the door in a drying cycle is adjusted, but in actual implementation, it may be identified whether the induction operates before entering a drying cycle, and if an operation of the induction is identified, entry into the drying cycle may be delayed. More detailed explanation in this regard will be described below in FIG. 7.

[0133] Also, in case the processor 130 obtained information on expected ending of the operation of the induction (or assumption information regarding expected ending), the processor 130 may adjust the aforementioned time point of opening the door in consideration of the obtained information on expected ending. For example, even though the induction is operating, in case it is identified, or it was predicted that the operation of the induction will end before a time point of opening the door in a general case, the processor 130 may determine a time point of opening the door by a general method without a separate delay.

[0134] In contrast, if it is predicted that the operation of the induction will end on a time point that is later than a general time point, the processor 130 may determine to delay a time point of opening the door by using any one of the various adjustment methods explained above. Here, the processor 130 may determine to use a method by which generation of additional energy is minimized among the aforementioned delay methods based on the predicted time information, and perform a delaying operation by the determined method.

[0135] Then, the processor 130 may control the driving device 120 such that the door is opened in a drying cycle based on the obtained time point of opening the door. Here, the processor 130 may make a sound or a message notifying opening of the door output right before the door is opened or on a predetermined time point (e.g., two or three seconds before).

[0136] Then, in case the time point of opening the door is delayed, the processor 130 may make information regarding the delay output. Such an output may proceed as a sound or a message, or it may be transmission of a message to the user device, etc.

[0137] As described above, the dishwasher according to the disclosure avoids or delays opening of the door during an operation of the induction, and thus exertion of influence on the induction, etc. by hot and humid air due to opening of the dishwasher can be reduced.

[0138] Meanwhile, in FIG. 2, only simple components of the dishwasher 100 were illustrated and explained, but in actual implementation, components that were not illustrated may be additionally used. Explanation in this regard will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.

[0139] FIG. 3 is a block diagram for illustrating a configuration of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0140] Referring to FIG. 3, the dishwasher 100 may include memory 110, a driving device 120, a processor 130, a display 140, a user interface 150, a communication circuit 160, a sensor 170, and a speaker 180.

[0141] As the memory 110, the driving device 120, and the processor 130 were explained above in FIG. 3, explanation regarding the same operations will be omitted below, and only added operations will be explained.

[0142] The display 140 may include various types of display panels such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) panel, active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes (AM-OLED), liquid crystal on silicon (LcoS), quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLED), digital light processing (DLP), a plasma display panel (PDP), an inorganic LED panel, an LED panel, etc., but is not limited thereto. Meanwhile, the display 140 may constitute a touch screen together with a touch panel, or may consist of a flexible panel.

[0143] The display 140 may be implemented as a square or a rectangle in a 2D shape, but is not limited thereto, and may be implemented in various shapes such as a circle, a polygon, a 3D stereoscopic form, etc.

[0144] The display 140 may be located in one area of the external surface of the dishwasher 100. For example, the display 140 may be located in one area of the surface of the door of the dishwasher 100 or one area of the front surface part of the dishwasher 100, but is not limited thereto.

[0145] The display 140 may display a setting UI for receiving a selection of whether to apply delay of opening of the door according to the disclosure, and a UI for receiving an input of an installation state (or an arrangement state) such as whether the dishwasher 100 is adjacent to a heating device, etc. Also, the display 140 may display various kinds of notifications of the dishwasher 100.

[0146] The user interface 150 may include a button type interface, a lever type interface, a switch type interface, a touch type interface, etc., and the touch type interface may be implemented by a method of receiving an input by the user's touch on the display 140.

[0147] The processor 130 may receive a user instruction or a user input through the user interface 150. Specifically, the processor 130 may receive a user input selecting one washing course among a plurality of washing courses through the user interface 150.

[0148] Also, the user may input a setting regarding whether to apply delay of opening of the door according to the disclosure, or input installation (or arrangement) information such as whether the heating device is located in the upper part of the dishwasher through the user interface 150. In addition, the user may also input a control instruction such as approval regarding delay of opening of the door, etc. through the user interface 150. Further, such an input may be based not only on a button input, but also on a user voice instruction input through a microphone (not shown), etc.

[0149] Other than the above, the processor 130 may receive various user inputs for control of the dishwasher 100 such as a user input for turning on the power of the dishwasher 100 or a user input for adjusting the washing time, etc. through the user interface 150.

[0150] Meanwhile, in actual implementation, a user input may be input through the user device or the server through the communication circuit 160 that will be described below but not the user interface 150.

[0151] The communication circuit 160 may include hardware components for supporting transmission and/or reception of electric signals between the dishwasher 100 and an external electronic device (e.g.: a server device, the user device, etc.). For example, the communication circuit 160 may include at least one of a modem, an antenna, or an optic/electronic (O/E) converter. The communication circuit 160 may support transmission and/or reception of electric signals based on various types of protocols such as Ethernet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee, long term evolution (LTE), 5G new radio (NR) and/or 6G, etc.

[0152] The dishwasher 100 may receive information on washing instructions for various tableware from an external device or an external server through the communication circuit 160.

[0153] The sensor 170 is a detection device for recognizing an operation state of a heating device. For example, the sensor 170 may be constituted as a temperature sensor. In this case, the temperature sensor may be located in the upper part of the dishwasher, and may consistently identify the temperature of the upper part of the dishwasher. Accordingly, the processor 130 may compare a temperature detected at the temperature sensor and a predetermined reference value, and thereby determine whether the heating device is operating. A more detailed determining operation will be described below in FIG. 11. In the case of using the temperature sensor as above, there is an advantage that an operation state of a gas stove, etc. not having a communication function can be obtained.

[0154] Also, the sensor 170 may be constituted as a magnetic sensor. For example, as the induction performs a heating operation by using a magnetic field, the magnetic field increases during an operation. Accordingly, if a sensing value detected from the magnetic sensor is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the processor 130 may determine that the induction is operating.

[0155] Further, the sensor 170 may be constituted as a camera. For example, the camera may photograph the front surface of the dishwasher, or photograph the upper area. In case the front surface is photographed, if the user is detected during a predetermined time or longer around the dishwasher, the processor 130 may determine that a cooking task is being performed around the dishwasher. In such a case, it is a situation wherein it is highly likely that the induction is currently operating, and is going to be used soon, and thus the processor 130 may treat the situation as a situation wherein the induction is operating, and delay opening of the door.

[0156] The camera may photograph the upper area of the dishwasher, and the processor 130 may determine whether there is a heating device and an operation state of the heating device by using the photographed image.

[0157] Meanwhile, in the above, it was illustrated and explained that the aforementioned sensor is a component inside the dishwasher 100, but the sensor may be a separate device outside the dishwasher 100, or a component of a separate home appliance or a separate device distinguished from the dishwasher 100. Accordingly, the processor 130 may identify whether a heating device, etc. operate, whether the user is located around the dishwasher 100, etc. by using another device that can figure out the environment around the dishwasher 100 among the ambient devices registered to the user account.

[0158] Also, in actual implementation, the disclosure may be implemented in a manner wherein such determination is performed at the server, etc., and if the aforementioned environment is identified, the server, etc. notify to the dishwasher 100 that it is such a situation.

[0159] The speaker 180 may output an acoustic signal to the outside of the dishwasher 100. The speaker 180 may output reproduction of multimedia, reproduction of recording, various types of notification sounds, voice messages, etc. The dishwasher 100 may include an audio output device such as the speaker 180, but may also include an output device such as an audio output terminal. In particular, the speaker 180 may provide obtained information, information processed.Math.produced based on the obtained information, a response result or an operation result for a user voice, etc. in voice forms.

[0160] Also, the speaker 180 may provide notification information regarding an operation state of the dishwasher 100, and in case the door is opened, output information notifying opening of the door. Further, if opening of the door of the dishwasher 100 is delayed, the speaker 180 may output information that opening of the door is being delayed.

[0161] As described above, the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure delays opening of the door if a heating device was operating, and thus it can prevent generation of damage to the heating device or the user using the heating device due to opening of the door.

[0162] In the above, it was illustrated and explained that the dishwasher 100 leadingly identifies an operation of a heating device, and adjusts an open state of the door in accordance thereto, but it is also possible that the determining and controlling operations as described above are performed at the server or the user device but not the dishwasher 100, and a time point of opening the door is delayed at the dishwasher 100 according to a control instruction in accordance thereto.

[0163] Meanwhile, in FIG. 3, a dishwasher including various additional components was illustrated, but a dishwasher may be implemented in a form wherein some components among the illustrated components were omitted. Also, although not illustrated, the dishwasher may further include other components.

[0164] FIG. 4 is a diagram for illustrating an operation of opening a door according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0165] First, a general drying cycle will be explained with reference to FIG. 4. First, when a dishwasher enters a drying cycle, the dishwasher may increase the temperature of the tableware or the inside of the dishwasher by spraying hot water of a high temperature on the tableware. Referring to FIG. 4, it can be identified that the temperature inside the chamber gradually increases. Meanwhile, in FIG. 4, the expression start of drying is described. Such an expression does not mean the start of a drying cycle, but means a time point after spraying of hot water of a high temperature as described above ended during a drying cycle.

[0166] When the temperature inside the chamber reaches a predetermined temperature (e.g., a final rinsing temperature, or a target heating temperature, a drying temperature, etc.) by such a heating operation, the dishwasher 100 may stop the heating operation. That is, the dishwasher 100 may stop an operation such as spraying hot water, etc. When discharge of hot water is stopped as above, it can be deemed that an operation of removing moisture smeared on the surfaces of the tableware proceeds.

[0167] Also, as an additional heat source is not provided inside the chamber, the inner temperature of the dishwasher 100 gets to decrease gradually as illustrated. Then, the dishwasher 100 gets to open the door after a specific time passed from the aforementioned time point. For example, the aforementioned temperature inside the chamber is the inner temperature of the dishwasher 100, but does not indicate the temperature of the tableware itself. That is, as the kitchenware can be continuously heated by the aforementioned state of a high temperature, even if the temperature inside the chamber reached the predetermined temperature, the door is not immediately opened such that the kitchenware contacts the outside air, but the dishwasher 100 goes through a process of waiting during a specific time.

[0168] Meanwhile, it was illustrated and explained that the dishwasher 100 waits during a specific time for the aforementioned reason, but in actual implementation, it is also possible that the door is immediately opened without proceeding with waiting after reaching the highest point.

[0169] When the door is opened after the specific time after reaching a high temperature as described above, the temperature inside the chamber 410 is exchanged with the outside air, and thus the temperature gets to descend rapidly.

[0170] Meanwhile, if a heating device such as an induction is operating on a time point when the door is opened as explained above, the dishwasher may delay opening of the door.

[0171] However, as explained above, in drying by the dishwasher, tableware is heated at a high temperature, and drying proceeds by a temperature difference between the heated tableware and the air, and accordingly, if the door is opened while the temperature dropped to a specific temperature, the drying capacity cannot help being deteriorated.

[0172] Accordingly, in the disclosure, various methods by which the door is opened while being delayed, but the same drying performance as in the past can be exerted will be explained below.

[0173] First, there is a method of delaying a time point only until a specific time (or to a case wherein the temperature of the inner air is a specific temperature) instead of delaying a time point infinitely.

[0174] For example, a standard for determination at which the drying performance is guaranteed may be selected as an experimental value through an experiment, or selected as a theoretical value in consideration of a condensation rate on a time point of waiting according to the temperature inside the chamber and an evaporation rate on a time point of opening.

[0175] In theory regarding condensation, a relational expression of heat transfer regarding vapor inside the dishwasher and the surface temperature may be used.

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Condensation}\mathrm{rate}=\frac{\mathrm{Heat}\mathrm{transfer}\mathrm{rate}}{\mathrm{Evaporative}\mathrm{latent}\mathrm{heat}}& \left[\mathrm{Formula}1\right]\end{array}$

[0176] A transfer rate of heat of condensation may be calculated through Reynolds Number of laminar flow and a heat transfer coefficient, and evaporative latent heat may be calculated by vapor and the surface structure.

[00002]$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Amount}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{Evaporation}=\mathrm{Mass}\mathrm{transfer}\mathrm{coefficient}*\mathrm{Area}*\mathrm{Density}\mathrm{difference}& \left[\mathrm{Formula}2\right]\end{array}$

[0177] Here, the mass transfer coefficient may be calculated through Sherwood Number, Schmidt Number, and a mass diffusion coefficient.

[0178] When a temperature value in consideration of a condensation rate and an evaporation rate as above (e.g.: a temperature for delayed ending) is set, if a heating device such as an induction is operating, opening of the door may be delayed, but opening may be delayed only to the aforementioned temperature for delayed ending, and the door may be opened after that (420, 430).

[0179] In case a drying module (e.g., a facility that infiltrates air of a high temperature, etc.) is provided inside the dishwasher, the drying module may be operated on a time of opening the door after the previous delayed time point. If the drying module operates as above (430), energy of a specific amount is provided to the inside of the chamber, and thus it can be figured out that descent of the temperature is slower than in a case wherein there is no drying module.

[0180] As described above, the case in FIG. 4 is an embodiment wherein opening of the door is delayed only during a specific time for guaranteeing the drying performance. However, for guaranteeing the drying performance, not only a method of delaying only during a specific time as described above, but also a method of proceeding by actively introducing energy, etc. is possible. Explanation in this regard will be described below with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7.

[0181] Meanwhile, when comparing the embodiment in FIG. 4 with other embodiments in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, only the time point of opening the door is delayed during a specific time, and thus there is an advantage that provision of additional energy is not performed or minimized during the process.

[0182] Meanwhile, in FIG. 5, it was explained that the door is opened after the aforementioned temperature is reached, but in actual implementation, a time value related to the aforementioned delay, etc. may be set in advance by the user. For example, the dishwasher 100 may receive an input of a time related to delay of opening of the door (e.g., five minutes) from the user, and identify whether the induction is operating on a time point when opening of the door is necessary, and delay opening of the door only during the aforementioned time of five minutes.

[0183] For example, the dishwasher 100 may periodically identify whether the induction is operating during five minutes after opening of the door is delayed, and if it is identified that the operation of the induction ended within the aforementioned five minutes, the dishwasher 100 may proceed with opening the door. Also, if ending of the operation of the induction is not identified within the aforementioned five minutes, the dishwasher 100 may immediately proceed with opening the door.

[0184] Meanwhile, in the above, it was explained that the door is opened in response to ending of the operation of the induction, but in actual implementation, there may be an interval of a specific time (e.g., a few minutes) between the aforementioned two operations. For example, even if cooking using the induction ends, there is a possibility that the user may be in front of the induction for moving the cooking device to another device, and thus opening may proceed after a specific time (e.g., one to two minutes) passes rather than immediately opening the door in case ending of the operation of the induction is identified.

[0185] FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating an operation of opening a door according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0186] Referring to FIG. 5, first, an operation of increasing the temperature inside the chamber, and ending increase of the temperature after reaching the final rinsing temperature is the same as in FIG. 4.

[0187] However, there is a difference in that, while opening of the door proceeds after a specific time passes or the temperature becomes lower than the temperature for delayed ending in FIG. 4, the door is not opened even if the temperature inside the chamber drops in FIG. 5.

[0188] That is, the embodiment in FIG. 5 has a difference in that a reheating operation is performed periodically (or repeatedly) for maintaining the temperature inside the chamber during an operation of the induction. For example, if it is identified that the induction is operating during a process of a drying cycle, the dishwasher may periodically perform a reheating operation (i.e., an operation of spraying hot water of a high temperature on the tableware) as illustrated in FIG. 5, and may thereby prevent a phenomenon wherein the temperature inside the chamber becomes a specific temperature (i.e., the final rinsing temperature) or lower.

[0189] Then, while maintaining the aforementioned state, if it is identified that the operation of the induction stopped, the dishwasher may stop the reheating operation, and proceed with opening the door.

[0190] Meanwhile, in the embodiment according to FIG. 5, use of additional energy is generated compared to the previous embodiments through a reheating operation. Accordingly, in the case of proceeding by the method as in FIG. 5, the dishwasher may guide the user in advance, or the procedure may be performed by the user's permission (or approval).

[0191] For example, the dishwasher may receive confirmation from the user regarding the fact that opening of the door will be delayed as the induction is being used on a time point of reheating, and may guide the user that additional power consumption may be generated due to the delay. Then, the dishwasher may perform the aforementioned operation as in FIG. 5 by the user's confirmation.

[0192] Meanwhile, in case the heating device operates during a quite long time, the aforementioned reheating operation may generate substantial energy consumption, and accordingly, in actual implementation, delay by the aforementioned method may be performed only during a specific time (e.g., 20 minutes to 30 minutes). That is, if it is identified that the induction is still being used after a specific time, an operation of opening the door may be performed as in FIG. 4.

[0193] FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating an operation of opening a door according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0194] Referring to FIG. 6, first, an operation of increasing the temperature inside the chamber, and ending increase of the temperature after reaching the final rinsing temperature is the same as in FIG. 4.

[0195] However, there is a difference in that, while opening of the door proceeds if the temperature becomes lower than the temperature for delayed ending in FIG. 4, the door is not opened in FIG. 6. Also, there is a difference in that, while a reheating operation is performed if the temperature becomes lower than the temperature for delayed ending in FIG. 5, separate reheating is not performed during an operation of the induction in FIG. 6 (S610, S620).

[0196] For example, in the embodiment in FIG. 6, the dishwasher may not perform a separate action until obtaining information that the operation of the induction ended. If the dishwasher obtains information that the operation of the induction ended, the dishwasher may determine whether the temperature inside the chamber is higher or lower than the temperature for delayed ending (S630).

[0197] If the current temperature inside the chamber is higher than the temperature for delayed ending, the dishwasher may immediately open the door. In contrast, if the current temperature inside the chamber is lower than the temperature for delayed ending, the dishwasher may perform a reheating operation as illustrated in FIG. 6 (S630). Also, if the temperature inside the chamber rises to the final rinsing temperature, the dishwasher may stop heating, and open the door after a specific time (S640).

[0198] In such a method, only additional reheating of one time is used, and therefore, depending on cases, generation of additional energy can be minimized more than in a case of repeatedly reheating as in FIG. 5. Meanwhile, in the illustrated example, it was illustrated that the inside of the dishwasher is reheated to the final rinsing temperature if ending of the operation of the induction is identified, but in actual implementation, it is also possible to reheat the inside only to the temperature for delayed ending, or to reheat the inside only to a middle point between the final rinsing temperature and the temperature for delayed ending.

[0199] When comparing the operation according to the embodiment according to FIG. 6 with the method in FIG. 4, energy (or power) is additionally consumed, and thus user confirmation or notification may proceed.

[0200] Meanwhile, the embodiments in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 have advantages and disadvantages of each other, and in case it is expected that ending of the operation (or stopping of the operation) of the induction will occur relatively quickly, the method in FIG. 5 may be advantageous. Also, in case it is expected that ending of the operation of the induction will occur relatively slowly, the method in FIG. 6 may be advantageous. Accordingly, in actual implementation, any one embodiment from FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 may be set as a default and operate, but it is also possible that the dishwasher makes a comprehensive determination, and decides one of the aforementioned delay methods and use it.

[0201] Meanwhile, in the above, it was explained that it is determined whether it is possible to open the door during proceeding of a drying cycle, but in actual implementation, it may be identified whether the induction is operating before entering a drying cycle, and it may be determined whether to enter the drying cycle according to whether the induction is operating. Explanation in this regard will be described below with reference to FIG. 7.

[0202] FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating an operation of opening a door according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0203] Referring to FIG. 7, it can be figured out that a washing cycle (CR1), a rinsing cycle (CR2), and a drying cycle (HR) are performed sequentially. In FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 above, a content of identifying whether the induction is operating after an operation of raising the temperature inside the chamber, and delaying opening of the door in accordance thereto was explained.

[0204] In FIG. 7, unlike in the aforementioned operation, when a rinsing cycle ends, an operation state of a heating device such as an induction, etc. may be identified. If the heating device is not operating as a result of identification, a drying cycle may immediately proceed.

[0205] If it is identified that a heating device such as an induction, etc. is operating, a drying cycle may proceed on a time point when the operation of the induction ends.

[0206] Meanwhile, in FIG. 7, it was illustrated and explained that, after the dishwasher performs an operation of raising the temperature inside the chamber after delaying a drying cycle, the dishwasher operates in the same form as the general drying cycle in FIG. 4.

[0207] However, although the user used the induction and ended using it before the drying cycle, the user may use the induction again after proceeding of the drying cycle later. Accordingly, in actual implementation, even after the drying cycle proceeded while being delayed as in FIG. 7, it may be identified again whether the induction is operating on a time point of opening the door, and in case it is necessary, the dishwasher may delay opening of the door by any one method among the methods in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6.

[0208] That is, the embodiment in FIG. 7 may be separately applied, but a form wherein the embodiment was combined with the embodiments in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 explained above may also be applied to the dishwasher.

[0209] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface window displayed on a display according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0210] Referring to FIG. 8, as explained above, in the operations in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 excluding FIG. 4, use of additional energy may be generated as opening of the door is delayed.

[0211] Accordingly, the dishwasher may display a user interface window 810 that receives a setting regarding whether to perform the aforementioned operation of delaying opening of the door from the user in advance on the display 140, and may operate by the method in FIG. 4, or perform the operations in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 according to a user instruction through the user interface window.

[0212] Meanwhile, in the above, only a UI related to setting of an operation of delaying opening of the door was illustrated, but in actual implementation, a UI for receiving inputs of an arrangement form of the induction, an arrangement form of the dishwasher, etc. may be displayed on the display.

[0213] FIG. 9 is a flow chart for illustrating a method for controlling a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0214] Referring to FIG. 9, the dishwasher obtains an operation state of an induction in its surroundings in the operation S910. For example, the dishwasher may obtain an operation state of an induction through communication with the induction or a server (or a user device) connected with the induction. Alternatively, the dishwasher may obtain an operation state of the induction based on temperature information obtained from the temperature sensor located in the upper part.

[0215] The dishwasher obtains a time point of opening the door in a drying cycle based on the obtained operation state in the operation S920. For example, in case the induction is not operating, if the temperature inside the body reaches a predetermined first temperature, the dishwasher may determine a time point of opening the door that is after a predetermined first time from the time point when the first temperature was reached.

[0216] If the induction is operating, the dishwasher may determine a time point that is delayed more than the first time from the time point when the first temperature was reached as the time point of opening the door, or delay the time point of opening the door until a time point when ending of the operation of the induction is identified.

[0217] Alternatively, the control method may further include, based on identifying that the time point of opening the door was delayed and the operation of the induction ended, proceeding with a reheating cycle that makes the temperature inside the body reach the first temperature, and in the opening the door, the door may be opened when the first time passes after proceeding of the reheating cycle.

[0218] Here, based on the time point of opening the door being delayed and the temperature inside the body becoming lower than a second temperature lower than the first temperature, a reheating cycle may proceed such that the temperature inside the body reaches the predetermined first temperature.

[0219] Alternatively, based on the time point of opening the door being delayed and the temperature inside the body becoming lower than a second temperature lower than the first temperature, the door may be opened.

[0220] Alternatively, it may be identified whether the induction operates before entering the drying cycle, and based on identifying that the induction is operating, proceeding of the drying cycle may be delayed until the operation of the induction is stopped.

[0221] The dishwasher controls opening of the door based on the obtained time point of opening the door in the operation S930.

[0222] As described above, the control method according to the disclosure adjusts a time point of opening the door according to an operation state of a heating device, and thus influence on the heating device can be reduced.

[0223] FIG. 10 is a flow chart for illustrating an operation of a drying cycle of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0224] Referring to FIG. 10, the dishwasher 100 may be provided with an operation state of the induction through communication in the operation S1005. Here, the operation state may be information including only whether the induction is operating or not operating, and in case a reserving operation and the like was set, the dishwasher 100 may also obtain information on a time point of ending of the reservation.

[0225] For example, in case the user set the induction to operate for five minutes and the induction is operating, and the dishwasher can identify such information regarding time, the determining operation in the operations in FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 above may be easier. For example, as in FIG. 7, if it was identified that the induction is operating before a drying cycle, but it was identified that the operation will end after five minutes, and it can be calculated that opening of the door will be after five minutes even if the drying cycle proceeds now, the dishwasher may immediately proceed with the drying cycle without a delay. In this case, the operation of the induction will end on a time point when opening of the door is actually performed, and thus generation of additional energy and delay of the tableware washing time can be prevented.

[0226] Meanwhile, in the above, it was explained that only reservation information is used, but regarding an expected time point of ending, information in that regard may be provided from an external server but not the induction, or the time point may be calculated by using a learning model in the dishwasher itself. That is, by using a learning model that predicts a time point of ending of the operation of the induction by a use pattern of the induction, etc. of the user, the dishwasher may calculate by itself information on a time point when the user is expected to end using the induction, or may be provided with the information from an external server, etc.

[0227] After such information is obtained, it may be determined whether the operation of the dishwasher is a drying cycle in the operation S1010.

[0228] If the dishwasher is proceeding with a drying cycle in the operation S1010-Y, it is identified whether the induction is operating in the operation S1015. If the dishwasher is not operating, the drying cycle may proceed as in the previous method, i.e., the method explained in FIG. 4, and the door may be opened on a time point of opening the door determined by the method in the operation S1050.

[0229] If the induction is operating in the operation S1015-Y, the time point of opening the door may be delayed in the operation S1020. Here, if a separate drying module is provided inside the dishwasher in the operation S1025, an operation of the drying module may be executed in the operation S1030.

[0230] Meanwhile, it is identified whether the temperature inside the chamber dropped to a temperature for delayed ending in the operation S1035.

[0231] If the temperature inside the chamber dropped to the temperature for delayed ending, but the induction is operating, the delay may end as explained in FIG. 4, and the door may immediately be opened in the operation S1040.

[0232] Also, if a fan is provided, the fan may be operated and the inside of the chamber may thereby be made to be ventilated in the operation S1045.

[0233] FIG. 11 is a diagram for illustrating a method of determining an operation state of a heating device by using a temperature sensor according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0234] Referring to FIG. 11, explanation will be described by assuming a case wherein a temperature sensor is located in the upper part of the dishwasher. In case a temperature sensor is located in the upper part like this, a temperature value at the temperature sensor may be changed according to an operation of a heating device located above the temperature sensor.

[0235] If the heating device gets to operate as in FIG. 11, the temperature value at the temperature sensor gets to gradually increase. Accordingly, if the temperature of the induction is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the dishwasher may determine that the induction is operating.

[0236] Meanwhile, in case the operation of the induction ends, the temperature of the induction may gradually drop, and the temperature value detected at the temperature sensor may also drop. However, the temperature value is still greater than or equal to the predetermined value. As a lot of delay may be generated if the dishwasher waits until the temperature drops to the predetermined value or lower, in case the temperature dropped by a specific temperature value or more based on the maximum temperature value detected within a predetermined period as illustrated, or a change (i.e., a tilt) of the temperature value sensed is a negative number, it may be determined that the operation of the induction ended.

[0237] Meanwhile, in the above, a temperature sensor was used, but in case an induction is used, it may be identified whether the induction is operating through a change of a magnetic value by using a magnetic sensor. Also, in actual implementation, it is also possible to determine whether the heating device is operating by summing up a detection value of the magnetic sensor and a temperature value of the temperature sensor through a combination of the temperature sensor and the magnetic sensor. In such a case, if a sensing result wherein the magnetic value increases in case the temperature increases is identified, the dishwasher may identify that an induction is arranged in its vicinity. In contrast, if only a change of the temperature is identified, and a change of the magnetic value is not identified, the dishwasher may identify that a gas stove is arranged.

[0238] Meanwhile, in the case of identifying whether a heating device is operating through such a sensor, there is an advantage that, even if the installed heating device is a device that cannot perform communication, it may operate according to the disclosure as described above. That is, for identifying an operation state of an induction through communication as in FIG. 10, a communication function should be provided in the induction, and even when such a function is provided, the induction should be a product of the same manufacturer, or a process of registering the induction to the same account, etc. is needed. However, in the case of using a temperature sensor, etc., even if the heating device does not include a communication device, or is not a product of the same manufacturer, application of the disclosure is possible.

[0239] Meanwhile, methods according to at least some of the aforementioned various embodiments of the disclosure can be implemented in forms of applications that can be installed on a conventional dishwasher.

[0240] Also, the methods according to at least some of the aforementioned various embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented just with software upgrade, or hardware upgrade for a conventional dishwasher.

[0241] In addition, it is also possible that the methods according to at least some of the aforementioned various embodiments of the disclosure are performed through an embedded server provided on a dishwasher, or an external server of at least one of electronic devices.

[0242] Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the aforementioned various embodiments may be implemented as software including instructions stored in machine-readable storage media, which can be read by machines (e.g.: computers). The machines refer to devices that call instructions stored in a storage medium, and can operate according to the called instructions, and the devices may include an electronic device according to the aforementioned embodiments (e.g.: a dishwasher A). In case an instruction is executed by a processor, the processor may perform a function corresponding to the instruction by itself, or by using other components under its control. An instruction may include a code that is generated or executed by a compiler or an interpreter. A storage medium that is readable by machines may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium.

[0243] Here, the term a non-transitory storage medium only means that a storage medium is tangible, and does not include signals (e.g.: electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish a case wherein data is stored in the storage medium semi-permanently and a case wherein data is stored temporarily. For example, a non-transitory storage medium may include a buffer wherein data is temporarily stored. Also, according to an embodiment, the methods according to the various embodiments disclosed herein may be provided while being included in a computer program product. A computer program product refers to a product, and it can be traded between a seller and a buyer. A computer program product can be distributed in the form of a storage medium that is readable by machines (e.g.: compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or distributed on-line (e.g.: download or upload) through an application store (e.g.: Play Store), or directly between two user devices (e.g.: smartphones). In the case of on-line distribution, at least a portion of a computer program product (e.g.: a downloadable app) may be stored in a storage medium readable by machines such as the server of the manufacturer, the server of the application store, and the memory of the relay server at least temporarily, or may be generated temporarily.

[0244] Also, the various embodiments of the disclosure according to the claims and the detailed description may be implemented through hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0245] Such software may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores one or more computer programs (or software modules), and the one or more computer programs may include computer-executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of an electronic device individually or collectively, make a dishwasher perform the method disclosed herein.

[0246] Any such software may be stored, for example, in a storage device such as ROM, or a volatile or a non-volatile storage device, or may be stored, for example, in memory such as RAM, a memory chip, a device, or an IC, or may be stored in an optical or a magnetic readable medium such as a CD, a DVD, a magnetic disc, and a magnetic tape, regardless of whether it can be erased or re-recorded. A storage device and a storage medium may be various embodiments of a computer program including instructions which, when executed, implement the various embodiments of the disclosure or a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that is suitable for storing such a computer program. Accordingly, the various embodiments may provide a program including a code for implementing the device or the method described in any one of the claims of this specification and a non-transitory machine-readable storage device storing such a program.

[0247] While the content of the disclosure was illustrated and described with reference to various embodiments, it is intended to be understood from the viewpoint of a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the disclosure belongs, and it is obvious that various modifications of forms and details can be made without departing from the gist of the disclosure defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.