CLOTHING TREATMENT APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD OF CLOTHING TREATMENT APPARATUS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clothing treatment apparatus in which an induction module for generating a magnetic field and a water level sensor affected by the magnetic field are able to be used together without confusion, and to a control method thereof.

Claims

1. A clothing treatment apparatus comprising: a cabinet having an opening in a front thereof; a tub disposed inside the cabinet to store water; a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub to accommodate clothing, the drum comprising a conductor; a drive part coupled to the tub to spin the drum; an induction module coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the tub to form a magnetic field to heat the drum; a water level sensor comprising a magnetic member and arranged in communication with the tub to sense a water level in the tub, a position of the water level sensor varying according to the water level; and a controller configured to control at least one of the drive part or the induction module, the controller receiving the water level sensed by the water level sensor, wherein the controller determines, as the water level in the tub, a water level sensed by the water level sensor with driving of the induction module stopped.

2. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein, based on the driving of the induction module being stopped, the controller is configured to perform a control operation to stop spinning of the drum.

3. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a water supply valve coupled to the cabinet to supply the water to the tub, wherein, based on the water supply valve being opened, the controller is configured to control the water supply valve to close with the driving of the induction module stopped.

4. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to close the water supply valve after a first time elapses since the driving of the induction module is stopped.

5. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to control the water supply valve to open with the driving of the induction module stopped.

6. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to control the water supply valve to open after a first time elapses since the driving of the induction module is stopped.

7. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a drain pump arranged to communicate with the tub to discharge the water from the cabinet, wherein, based on the drain pump being driven, the controller is configured to stop driving the drain pump with the driving of the induction module stopped.

8. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to stop driving the drain pump after a first time elapses since the driving of the induction module is stopped.

9. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to drive the drain pump with the driving of the induction module stopped.

10. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to drive the drain pump after a first time elapses since the driving of the induction module is stopped.

11. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first time is set to be less than or equal to 5 seconds.

12. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the induction module is disposed on an upper portion of the tub, wherein the magnetic member of the water level sensor is configured to be disposed above the opening.

13. A clothing treatment apparatus comprising: a cabinet having an opening in a front thereof; a tub disposed inside the cabinet to store water; a water supply valve coupled to the cabinet to supply the water to the tub; a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub to accommodate clothing, the drum comprising a conductor; a drive part coupled to the tub to spin the drum; an induction module coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the tub to form a magnetic field to heat the drum; a water level sensor comprising a magnetic member and arranged in communication with the tub to sense a water level in the tub, a position of the water level sensor varying according to the water level; and a controller configured to control controlling at least one of the water supply valve, the drive part, or the induction module, the controller receiving the water level sensed by the water level sensor, wherein the controller is configured to disregard the water level delivered from the water level sensor with the induction module driven.

14. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 13, wherein, based on the sensed water level exceeding a critical water level, the controller is configured to block driving of at least one of the water supply valve, the drive part, or the induction module, wherein, based on the induction module being driven, the controller is configured to maintain the driving of the at least one of the water supply valve, the drive part, or the induction module even when the sensed water level exceeds the critical water level.

15. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 14, wherein, after driving the induction module while controlling the water supply valve to close, the controller is configured to perform an operation comprising: based on an increase in the water level in the tub being sensed with driving of the induction module stopped, blocking driving of at least one of the drive part or the induction module.

16. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 14, wherein, after driving the induction module while controlling the water supply valve to close, the controller is configured to perform an operation comprising: based on an increase in the water level in the tub being sensed with driving of the induction module stopped, blocking driving of at least one of the drive part and the induction module.

17. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a drain pump arranged to communicate with the tub to discharge the water from the cabinet, wherein, based on an amount of change in the water level in the tub exceeding a reference value with driving of the water supply valve and the drain pump stopped, the controller is configured to block driving of at least one of the drive part or the induction module, wherein, based on the induction module being driven, the controller is configured to maintain driving of at least one of the drive part or the induction module even when a sensed amount of change in the water level in the tub exceeds the reference value.

18. A clothing treatment apparatus comprising: a cabinet having an opening in a front thereof; a tub disposed inside the cabinet to store water; a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub to accommodate clothing, the drum comprising a conductor; a drive part coupled to the tub to spin the drum; an induction module coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the tub to form a magnetic field to heat the drum; a water level sensor comprising a magnetic member and arranged in communication with the tub to sense a water level in the tub, a position of the water level sensor varying according to the water level; and a controller configured to control at least one of the drive part or the induction module, the controller receiving the water level sensed by the water level sensor, wherein the controller is configured to perform an operation comprising: based on the induction module being driven, withholding determining the water level in the tub, wherein, based on a spin speed of the drum changing beyond an acceptable range while the induction module is driven, the controller is configured to recognize that the water level in the tub changes.

19. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 18, wherein, based on revolutions per minute (RPM) of the drum decreasing below an acceptable range or continuing to decrease during driving of the induction module, the controller determines that the water level in the tub is increasing, or determines that the water level in the tub is an excessive water level.

20. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 19, wherein, based on the RPM of the drum decreasing below the acceptable range or continuing to decrease during the driving of the induction module, the controller is configured to block driving of at least one of the drive part or the induction module.

21. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 20, wherein, based on the driving of the drive part and the induction module being blocked, the water level in the tub is re-sensed.

22. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 21, wherein, based on the re-sensed water level in the tub being maintained in a state of the excessive water, the controller determines that bubbles have been generated inside the drum.

23. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 21, further comprising: a water supply valve controlled to supply the water to the tub, wherein, upon determining that the re-sensed water level in the tub is increasing, the controller determines that the water supply valve has failed.

24. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: a water supply valve controlled to supply the water to the tub, wherein, based on a spin speed of the drum decreasing below a specific speed or continuing to decrease during driving of the induction module with the water supply valve controlled to close, the controller determines that the water supply valve has failed.

25. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: a drain pump arranged to communicate with the tub to discharge the water from the cabinet, wherein, based on the spin speed of the drum increasing beyond an acceptable range, the controller determines that water leakage has occurred in the tub, or that the drain pump is malfunctioning.

26. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 25, wherein, based on revolutions per minute (RPM) of the drum increasing beyond an acceptable range or continuing to increase during driving of the induction module, the controller is configured to block driving of at least one of the drive part, the induction module, or the drain pump.

27. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 26, wherein, based on the driving of the drive part, the induction module, and the drain pump being blocked, the water level in the tub is re-sensed.

28. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 26, wherein, based on the re-sensed water level in the tub being maintained in a lowered state, the controller determines that the drain pump is malfunctioning.

29. The clothing treatment apparatus of claim 26, wherein, based on the re-sensed water level in the tub continuing to be lowered, the controller determines that water leakage has occurred in the tub.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates an exterior of a clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates an internal configuration of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates a support for mounting an induction module according to the present disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 4 illustrates a coil control of the induction module according to the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 5 illustrates a magnetic member fixing structure installed in the induction module according to the present disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 6 illustrates arrangement of a coil and a magnetic member installed in the induction module according to the present disclosure.

[0057] FIG. 7 illustrates a water level sensor of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 8 illustrates arrangement of the water level sensor of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0059] FIG. 9 illustrates driving of the induction module affecting the water level sensor in the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0060] FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of driving a drain pump of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0061] FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of driving the drain pump of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0062] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of opening a water supply valve of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0063] FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of opening the water supply valve of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0064] FIG. 14 illustrates an air condensing structure of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0065] FIG. 15 illustrates air condensation control in the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0066] FIG. 16 illustrates a situation in which bubbles are generated in the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0067] FIG. 17 illustrates a situation in which an abnormal water supply occurs in the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0068] FIG. 18 illustrates a situation in which water leaks out of the tub of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0069] FIG. 19 illustrates a control method for sensing the situations of FIGS. 16 to 18 in real time.

[0070] FIG. 20 illustrates a control method for classifying/analyzing the situations of FIGS. 16 to 18.

BEST MODEL

[0071] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present disclosure, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar elements in different embodiments, and each of them will be described only once. As used herein, the singular forms include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are merely intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure and are not to be construed as limiting the technical ideas disclosed herein.

[0072] FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of a clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0073] The clothing treatment apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include a cabinet 10 defining an exterior, a tub 20 arranged inside the cabinet, and a drum 30 rotatably arranged inside the tub 20 to accommodate clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed).

[0074] The cabinet 10 may include an opening 17 provided at a front of the cabinet 10 to allow the clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed) to be put in and retrieved therethrough. The cabinet 10 may include a door 16 rotatably mounted to the cabinet to open and close the opening 17.

[0075] The door 16 may include an annular door frame 161 and a transparent window 162 provided in a center portion of the door frame.

[0076] The tub 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis kept parallel to or arranged at 0 to 30 with respect to the bottom surface of the cabinet to define a space in which water may be stored. It includes a tub inlet 27 in the front thereof for communication with the opening 17.

[0077] The tub 20 may be supported by a support part 70 and fixed inside the cabinet 10.

[0078] The support part 70 may include a damper 71 supporting a lower portion of the tub 20, and a spring 72 supporting an upper portion of the tub 20.

[0079] Accordingly, vibrations transmitted to the tub 20 by spinning of the drum 30 may be attenuated.

[0080] The drum 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis kept parallel to or arranged at 0 to 30 with respect to the bottom surface of the cabinet to accommodate clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed), and may include a drum inlet 31 in the front thereof for communication with the tub inlet 27.

[0081] Thus, a user may insert clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed) into the inner space of the drum 30 or withdraw clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed) from the inner space of the drum 30 through the opening, the tub inlet 27 and the drum inlet 31.

[0082] The drum 30 may also include a drum outer circumferential surface 32 arranged to accommodate the clothing, and a drum rear surface 33 provided at the rear of the drum and coupled to a drive part 40.

[0083] The drum outer circumferential surface 32 includes multiple through holes 321, which are provided to allow water stored in the tub 20 to flow into the drum, as well as to allow water discharged from the clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed) to drain into the inner space of the tub 20.

[0084] The inner circumferential surface of the drum 30 may include lifters 34 arranged to agitate the clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed) while the drum spins.

[0085] The drum 30 may further include a balancer 35 coupled to the front of the outer circumferential surface 32 to compensate for maldistribution inside the drum 30.

[0086] Multiple balls or fluids having a mass to compensate for the maldistribution may be accommodated in the balancer 35.

[0087] The clothing treatment apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include a drive part 40 configured to spin the drum 30.

[0088] The drive part 40 may be coupled to the tub 20 to spin the drum 30. The drive part 40 may include a stator 41 fixed to the rear surface of the tub 20 to generate a rotating magnetic field, a rotor 42 rotated by electromagnetic interaction with the stator, and a shaft 43 arranged through the rear surface of the tub 20 to connect the drum rear surface 33 and the rotor 42.

[0089] Further, the drive part 40 may further include a spider 44 coupled to the drum rear surface 33 to spin the drum 30.

[0090] The spider 44 may be provided by extending the shaft 43, and may have one surface coupled to the drum rear surface 33 and coupled to the rotor 42 via the shaft 43.

[0091] The clothing treatment apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a water supply part 50 supplied with water from an outside.

[0092] The water supply part 50 may include a water supply valve 51 coupled to the cabinet 10 and communicating with an external water source, a water supply pipe 52 extending from the water supply valve 51 to supply water, a detergent box 53 arranged to receive water from the water supply pipe 52 and store detergent, and a supply pipe 54 connecting the detergent box 53 to the tub 20 to supply at least one of the water and the detergent to the tub 20.

[0093] The detergent accommodated in the detergent box 53 may be diluted in the water from the water supply pipe 52 and supplied to the tub 20 through the supply pipe 53.

[0094] The detergent box 53 may include a housing fixed in the space between the top of the tub 20 and the cabinet 10, and a detergent accommodation portion disposed in the housing to be withdrawn forward.

[0095] The clothing treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a drainage part 60 arranged to drain water inside the tub 20 to the outside of the cabinet 10.

[0096] The drainage part 60 may include a drainpipe 61 arranged to drain water from the tub 20, a drain pump 62 connected to the drainpipe 61 to provide power to drain the water to the outside of the cabinet 10, and an extension pipe 53 extending from the drain pump 62 to the outside of the cabinet 10.

[0097] To facilitate the draining of water from the tub 20 using gravity, the drain pump 62 and the drain pipe 61 may be arranged under the tub 20.

[0098] A gasket 28 may be arranged between the opening of the cabinet 10 and the tub inlet 27. The gasket 28 may prevent water inside the tub 20 from leaking into the cabinet 10. Further, the gasket 28 may be formed of an elastic material to prevent vibration of the tub 20 from being transmitted to the cabinet 10.

[0099] The clothing treatment apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include an input panel 11 arranged on the front side to receive instructions for operation of the clothing treatment apparatus.

[0100] The input panel 11 may be configured to receive a set of instructions for supply of power to the clothing treatment apparatus or for execution of a wash cycle, a drying cycle, or the like in which the clothing treatment apparatus may wash or dry clothing.

[0101] The input panel 11 may be provided as a user interface, and may include a display such as a liquid crystal display or an electric light to display information about the clothing treatment apparatus.

[0102] The clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may be configured to heat water, dry clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed), and refresh (steam) the clothing.

[0103] To this end, the clothing treatment apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include an induction module I configured to heat a drum 30.

[0104] The induction module I may be used to perform at least one of washing, drying and refreshing (steaming).

[0105] The induction module I may be mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, and may include a coil 600 formed by winding wires. The induction module I serves to heat the circumferential surface of the drum 30 through a magnetic field generated by applying an electrical current to the coil 600.

[0106] Regarding how the induction module I heats the drum 30, Alternating current whose phase changes is applied to the coil 600 on the outer side of the circumferential surface of the drum 30, and the coil 600 forms a radial alternating magnetic field according to the Ampre's circuital law.

[0107] This alternating magnetic field is concentrated toward the drum 30, which is made of a conductor with high permeability. Permeability is the measure of magnetization of a medium in a given magnetic field. Eddy currents are formed in the drum 30 according to Faraday's law of induction. The eddy currents flow through the drum 30 made of the conductor and are converted to joule heat by the resistance of the drum 30. Thereby, the inner wall of the drum 30 is directly heated.

[0108] When the inner wall of the drum 30 is directly heated, the temperature of the air inside the drum 30 and the temperature of clothes in contact with the inner wall of the drum 30 increase together. This direct heating of the clothing enables faster drying compared to a drying apparatus that uses only an indirect heating method, such as hot air drying or low-temperature dehumidification drying.

[0109] Furthermore, even when the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure is configured as a washing machine as well as a dryer, the water may be heated without having a separate heating wire and flow channel exposed inside the tub 20, and may be continuously in contact with the inner and outer walls of the drum 30. Thus, the water may be heated more quickly than in the case where a separate heater is placed under the tub 20 and used for heating.

[0110] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of an induction module I of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0111] The induction module I is mounted on the circumferential surface of the tub 20 and heats the circumferential surface of the drum 30 through a magnetic field generated by applying a current to the coil 600 formed by winding wires.

[0112] The induction module I may include a base 100 disposed to mount the coil 600 on a top surface of the tub 20. The base 100 may be fixed to the circumferential surface of the tub 20, such that it may be disposed on the upper side of a horizontal surface parallel to the ground by extending through the shaft 43.

[0113] The base 100 may be formed in a rectangular plate shape or oblong shape having a predetermined thickness, and may have a front-to-back length longer than a width corresponding to the circumferential direction of the tub 20.

[0114] The base 100 may include a base body 110 disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, a seating surface 120 arranged on an upper surface of the base body 110, the coil 600 being wound on the seating surface, a bottom surface 130 arranged on a lower surface of the base body 120 to face the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, and a fixing portion 140 provided to couple the base body 110 to the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20.

[0115] At least one of the base body 110 and the seating surface 120 may be curved in cross-section to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 on the drum 30.

[0116] Further, the base 100 may include a seating rib 200 protruding upward from the seating surface 120 to allow the coil to be wound. The seating rib 200 may extend from an inner side to an outer side of the seating surface 120 in a screw fashion to define an installation space 230 in which the coil 600 is seated or inserted.

[0117] In order to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 towards the drum 30 and not towards the cabinet 10, the induction module I may include a permanent magnet 310 arranged on the upper side of the base 100 as a bar magnet, and a magnet cover 320 arranged to fix the permanent magnet 310 to the upper portion of the base 100.

[0118] The permanent magnet 310 may include permanent magnets spaced apart from each other along the direction in which the coil 600 is wound. The permanent magnet 310 may be positioned on top of the coil 600 and disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wires forming the coil 600, such that they are disposed on top of both the inner and outer coils.

[0119] The magnet cover 320 may include a housing body 321 having a shape corresponding to the base 100, such as a rectangular plate shape or an oblong shape having a predetermined thickness, a magnet mounting portion 322 provided on the housing body 321 to accommodate the permanent magnet 310, and an air flow hole 323 formed through the housing body 321 and spaced apart from the magnet mounting portion 322.

[0120] The magnet mounting portion 322 define a space in which the permanent magnet 310 is accommodated and installed.

[0121] The induction module I may include a base cover 400 arranged to fix the magnet cover 320 to the base 100 and to prevent the coil 600 from being displaced.

[0122] The base cover 400 may include a cover body 410 having a rectangular plate shape or oblong shape having a predetermined thickness, and an air vent hole 420 provided in a center portion of the cover body 410 to allow heat (air) to flow by convection or to allow a blower fan 500 to be seated therein.

[0123] The blower fan 500 may be coupled to the base cover 400 to supply air from the base 100 into the induction module I.

[0124] The blower fan 500 may cause air to move through the induction module I to prevent the induction module I from overheating.

[0125] Specifically, air may be drawn into the base cover 400 through the air vent hole 420. Inside the induction module, a space is defined between the base cover 400, the magnet coupling part 300, and the base 100, and an air flow space is defined by the air flow hole 323 and the like. Also, the base body 110 is provided with a penetrated portion 111. Thus, air may cool the coil 600 in the inner space and be discharged to the outside of the induction module through the penetrated portion 111.

[0126] The magnet cover 320 and the base cover 400 may be provided as separate members, allowing air to flow over the top surface of the permanent magnet 310. Thereby, the permanent magnet 310 may be prevented from overheating.

[0127] Further, since the magnet cover 320 and the base cover 400 are separate members, the permanent magnet 310 may be easily attached and detached such that the permanent magnet 310 may be easily replaced. Also, since the part fixing the permanent magnet 310 does not have a closed surface, it may be easily injection molded.

[0128] Hereinafter, a structure for fixing the base 100, magnet cover 320 and base cover 400 to the tub 20 will be described.

[0129] First, the base 100 may include fixing portions 140 arranged at a corner of the base body 110 and provided with a fixing hole 141 into which a screw are inserted. The fixing portions 140 may protrude from both sides of each of the front and rear ends of the base body 110, respectively.

[0130] The tub 20 may be provided with multiple coupling portions 25 having a hollow portion communicating with the fixing hole 141.

[0131] Furthermore, the magnetic cover 320 may be arranged at a corner of the housing body 321 and may include a magnet fixing portion 330 having a magnetic fixing hole 331 communicating with the fixing hole 141 to allow a screw to be inserted into.

[0132] The magnetic fixing portion 330 may protrude from both sides of each of the front and rear ends of the housing body 321, respectively.

[0133] Further, the base cover 400 may include cover fixing portions 430 protruding from the front and rear ends of the cover body 410 and provided with a cover fixing hole 431 communicating with the fixing hole 141.

[0134] Accordingly, a screw may be arranged through the cover fixing hole 431, magnet fixing hole 331, fixing hole 141 to be fixed to the coupling portion 25.

[0135] FIG. 6 illustrates a base 100 of the induction module.

[0136] The induction module I may include a base 100 serving as a fixing member to fix the coil 600 to the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20. The base may be mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 to prevent the coil 600 from being displaced even when the tub 20 vibrates.

[0137] FIG. 3-(a) illustrates the top surface of the base 100, while FIG. 3-(b) illustrates the bottom surface of the base 100.

[0138] Referring to FIG. 3-(a), the base 100 may include a base body 110 disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, a seating surface 120 arranged on an upper surface of the base body 110 to allow the coil 600 to be seated thereon, and a seating rib 200 protruding from the seating surface 120 to allow the coil 600 to be wound to be fixed.

[0139] The base body 110 may have a penetrated portion 111 formed in a thickness direction.

[0140] The seating rib 200 may extend upward of the penetrated portion 111. In other words, the seating rib 200 may be formed on the seating surface 120 regardless of the shape of the penetrated portion 111.

[0141] The seating rib 200 may extend in a direction extending along the perimeter of the seating surface 120 from an inner side to an outer side.

[0142] The seating ribs 200 extending from the inner side to the outer side may be spaced apart from each other at a constant distance such that an installation space 230 in which the coil 600 is placed may be defined between the seating ribs 200.

[0143] The seating ribs 200 may extend in a circular, elliptical shape with increasing diameters from an inner to an outer side of the seating surface. Alternatively, the seating ribs 200 may extend to form a shape of tracks that increase in area from the inner side to the outer side of the seating surface.

[0144] The track shape may be a mixture of straight line portions and curved portions, which may maximize the area of the coil 600 seated on the seating surface 120, compared to a circular shape or an elliptical shape.

[0145] The shape of the seating ribs 200 extension on the seating surface 120 may determine the shape of windings of the coil 600.

[0146] The seating ribs 200 may protrude or extend upward from the seating surface 120, and may have a height greater than the thickness of the coil 600.

[0147] The seating ribs 200 may be spaced apart from each other such that the wound coils 600 do not contact each other, thereby preventing short circuits. Thus, the coils 600 wound on the seating ribs 200 may not need to be coated with a separate insulating film or the thickness of the insulating film may be minimized. Accordingly, production costs may be reduced.

[0148] The seating ribs 200 may form a slot having a narrower width than the diameter of the wire of the coil 600 such that the coil 600 is press-fitted. The width of the installation space 230 may be 93% to 97% of the diameter of the wire of the coil 600.

[0149] By press-fitting the coil 600 into the installation space 230, the coil 600 may be held in the installation space 230 even when vibrations of the tub 20 are transmitted to the coil 600. Thus, the coil 600 may be prevented from being displaced from the installation space 230, and noise, which may be generated due to play, may be prevented because movement is suppressed.

[0150] The upper ends of the seating ribs 200 may be bent after the coil 600 is inserted to shield at least a portion of the top of the coil 600.

[0151] To this end, the upper ends of the seating ribs 200 may be bent or heat-treated.

[0152] As such, the upper ends of the seating ribs 200 may form a fixing hook 221 to fix the coil 600.

[0153] Referring to FIG. 6-(a), after the coil 600 is press-fitted into the installation space 230, the seating ribs 200 may be melted while the top surface thereof is pressurized. The melted upper ends of the seating ribs 200 may then spread to both sides to cover the top of the coil 600 on both sides.

[0154] By fixing the coil 600 in the installation space 230 by press-fitting and melting the upper ends of the seating ribs 200, the paths along which the coil 600 may escape may be physically blocked, the movement of the coil 600 may be prevented. Thereby, noise may be prevented in the event of vibration of the tub 20, and the durability of the parts may be improved by eliminating play between the parts.

[0155] While the coil 600 is described as being arranged on the top surface of the base 100, the seating ribs 200 may protrude downward from the base 100 such that the coil 600 is arranged on the bottom surface of the base 100.

[0156] FIG. 6-(b) illustrates the bottom surface of the base 100.

[0157] The penetrated portion 111 may be exposed on the bottom surface 130 of the base 110.

[0158] Also, referring to FIG. 6-(b), the bottom surface of the base 110 may be provided with support bars 131.

[0159] The support bars 131 may be arranged to enhance the contact between the base 100 and the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 and to increase the rigidity of the base 100.

[0160] The base 100 may include a through hole 112 in the center of the seating surface 120 on which the coil 600 is not wound. The through hole may include multiple through holes spaced apart from each other at regular intervals in the front-to-back direction of the tub 20.

[0161] The support bars 131 may radially extend from the through holes 112 across the base 100.

[0162] When the fixing portions 140 are fixed to the coupling portions 25 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 is pressed by the support bars 131. Thus, the base 100 may be coupled to the tub 20 with more pressure than when the entirety of the base 100 is brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20.

[0163] As a result, the base 100 does not easily move or disengage from the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 even when the tub 20 vibrates.

[0164] FIG. 7 illustrates the structure of a coil 600 of the induction module.

[0165] The seating ribs 200 may extend from positions adjacent the outermost periphery of the seating surface 120 toward the center in a winding manner, and the coil 600 may be arranged between the seating ribs 200 to be wound.

[0166] The wire forming the coil 600 may be press-fitted between the seating ribs 200 to make a surface contact.

[0167] The clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a controller 15 configured to control the supply of current to the coil 600. Both ends of the coil 600 may be coupled to the controller 15.

[0168] One end of the coil 600 may extend into a through hole 321 provided in the center of the seating surface 120 and the opposite end thereof may extend from the seating surface 120 to an outermost side of the seating ribs 200.

[0169] The coil 600 may extend from the controller 15 to the seating surface 120 through the bottom surface 130 of the base body 110 and be wound on the seating ribs 200. Then, it may be connected to the controller 15.

[0170] In this case, the coil wound on the seating ribs 200 may extend back to the bottom surface 130 and connect to the controller 15. As the coil 600 is connected to the base 100 through the bottom surface, which is the point at which the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 is subject to the smallest vibration displacement, the vibration phase difference formed along a wire 81a may be reduced, thereby preventing disconnection and dislodgment.

[0171] Both ends of the coil 600 may extend to the rear of the tub 20 to extend to the controller 15. The rear of the tub 20 is closer to the drive part 40, and may thus have a smaller amplitude.

[0172] FIG. 6 illustrates a specific structure of the magnet cover 320.

[0173] The induction module I may further include a magnet cover 320 coupled to the base 100 to cover the installation space 230.

[0174] The magnet cover 320 may include a housing body 321 arranged to be coupled to the top surface of the base 100 and to prevent the coil 600 and permanent magnet 310 from being displaced.

[0175] A bottom surface of the housing body 321 may be formed to closely contact the upper ends of the seating ribs 200 of the base 100.

[0176] The bottom surface of the magnetic cover 320 may include multiple magnet mounting portions 322 that protrude downward.

[0177] The magnet mounting portions 322 may provide space to accommodate the permanent magnet 310, and may closely contact the upper ends of the seating ribs 320 to shield the seating ribs 320 with greater pressure.

[0178] Thus, despite the vibration of the tub 20, noise or displacement of the coil 600 resulting from play may be avoided.

[0179] Multiple magnet mounting portions 322 may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the coil 600. Further, they may be arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coil 600. Thus, the entire coil may be securely fixed even without pressing the entire coil.

[0180] The magnet mounting portions 322 may be integrated with the housing body 321. Thus, the magnet mounting portions 322 press the coil 600 when the magnet cover 320 is coupled to the base 100. Accordingly, there is no need for a separate means or step to press the coil 600.

[0181] The permanent magnet 310 may be inserted into the magnet mounting portions 322 to be mounted therein. Thus, once the permanent magnet 310 is fixed to the magnet cover 320, the permanent magnet may be held in place on top of the coil 600 as the magnet cover 320 is coupled to the base housing 100.

[0182] Preferably, the permanent magnets 310 may each be disposed at a specific location on the top surface of the coil 600 to efficiently concentrate the magnetic field toward the drum 30. Therefore, if the permanent magnets 310 move with the vibration of the tub 20, it may cause noise as well as a decrease in heating efficiency More specifically, the magnet mounting portion 322 may protrude downward from the bottom surface of the magnet cover 320 to form two side walls facing each other, and may have an open surface 3221 that is open downward such that the bottom surface of the permanent magnet 310 mounted in the magnet mounting portion 322 may face one surface of the coil 600.

[0183] In this case, the side-to-side movement of the permanent magnet 310 may be restrained by the side walls, and the open surface 3221 may allow the permanent magnet 310 to be closer to the top surface of the coil 600.

[0184] As the permanent magnets 310 are positioned closer to the coil 600, the magnetic field may be more intensively directed toward the drum 30, resulting in stable and uniform heating of the drum 30.

[0185] The magnet mounting portion 322 may further include a stop portion protruding inward to prevent the permanent magnet 310 from being displaced downward.

[0186] Further, the magnet cover 320 may include detachable hooks 324 arranged at both corners to protrude downward and be detachably coupled to the base 100.

[0187] FIG. 9 illustrates the arrangement of the coil 600 and permanent magnets 310 provided in the induction module I.

[0188] The coil 600 may be arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 in the shape of concentric circles, ellipses, tracks, or the like.

[0189] The permanent magnets 310 serve as a blocking member against magnetic field transmission to prevent other surrounding elements besides the drum 30 from being heated, and also serve to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 toward the drum 30 to increase heating efficiency.

[0190] The permanent magnet 310 may include a bar magnet. Preferably, it may be positioned on top of the coil 600 and disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coil 600. This is intended to cover both the inner and outer coils simultaneously.

[0191] The permanent magnet 310 may include multiple bar magnets of the same size. The multiple permanent magnets 310 may be spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the coil 600.

[0192] If the permanent magnets 310 are disposed only at certain locations, the amount of magnetic field radiated to the drum 30 will vary from one portion to another of the circumferential surface of the drum 30, making uniform heating difficult. Therefore, the multiple permanent magnets 310 may be spaced apart from each other along the perimeter of the coil 600 in order to direct the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 uniformly toward the drum 30.

[0193] Further, given the same number of permanent magnets 310, they are preferably densely disposed on portions of the coil 600 adjacent to the front and rear of the tub 20.

[0194] Specifically, the coil 600 may be divided into a first straight portion 610 extending in a front-to-back direction, a curved portion 620 provided at both ends of the straight portion, and a second straight portion 630 disposed at the front and rear.

[0195] The first straight portion 610 may be longer than the second straight portion 630, corresponding to the length of the drum 30.

[0196] More permanent magnets may be arranged on the curved portion 620 and the second straight portion 630 than on the first straight portion 610. This may allow more magnetic field to be radiated over a smaller area of the coil 600 to uniformly heat the drum 30.

[0197] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of the present disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0198] FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0199] The clothing treatment apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include a cabinet 10 defining an exterior, a tub 20 arranged inside the cabinet, and a drum 30 rotatably arranged inside the tub 20 to accommodate clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed).

[0200] The cabinet 10 may include an opening 17 provided at a front of the cabinet 10 to allow the clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed) to be put in and retrieved therethrough. The cabinet 10 may include a door 16 rotatably mounted to the cabinet to open and close the opening 17.

[0201] The door 16 may include an annular door frame 161 and a transparent window 162 provided in a center portion of the door frame.

[0202] The tub 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis kept parallel to or arranged at 0 to 30 with respect to the bottom surface of the cabinet to define a space in which water may be stored. It includes a tub inlet 27 in the front thereof for communication with the opening 17.

[0203] The tub 20 may be supported by a support part 70 and fixed inside the cabinet 10.

[0204] The support part 70 may include a damper 71 supporting a lower portion of the tub 20, and a spring 72 supporting an upper portion of the tub 20.

[0205] Accordingly, vibrations transmitted to the tub 20 by spinning of the drum 30 may be attenuated.

[0206] The drum 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis kept parallel to or arranged at 0 to 30 with respect to the bottom surface of the cabinet to accommodate clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed), and may include a drum inlet 31 in the front thereof for communication with the tub inlet 27.

[0207] Thus, a user may insert clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed) into the inner space of the drum 30 or withdraw clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed) from the inner space of the drum 30 through the opening, the tub inlet 27 and the drum inlet 31.

[0208] The drum 30 may also include a drum outer circumferential surface 32 arranged to accommodate the clothing, and a drum rear surface 33 provided at the rear of the drum and coupled to a drive part 40.

[0209] The drum outer circumferential surface 32 includes multiple through holes 321, which are provided to allow water stored in the tub 20 to flow into the drum, as well as to allow water discharged from the clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed) to drain into the inner space of the tub 20.

[0210] The inner circumferential surface of the drum 30 may include lifters 34 arranged to agitate the clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed) while the drum spins.

[0211] The drum 30 may further include a balancer 35 coupled to the front of the outer circumferential surface 32 to compensate for maldistribution inside the drum 30.

[0212] Multiple balls or fluids having a mass to compensate for the maldistribution may be accommodated in the balancer 35.

[0213] The clothing treatment apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include a drive part 40 configured to spin the drum 30.

[0214] The drive part 40 may be coupled to the tub 20 to spin the drum 30. The drive part 40 may include a stator 41 fixed to the rear surface of the tub 20 to generate a rotating magnetic field, a rotor 42 rotated by electromagnetic interaction with the stator, and a shaft 43 arranged through the rear surface of the tub 20 to connect the drum rear surface 33 and the rotor 42.

[0215] Further, the drive part 40 may further include a spider 44 coupled to the drum rear surface 33 to spin the drum 30.

[0216] The spider 44 may be provided by extending the shaft 43, and may have one surface coupled to the drum rear surface 33 and coupled to the rotor 42 via the shaft 43.

[0217] The clothing treatment apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a water supply part 50 supplied with water from an outside.

[0218] The water supply part 50 may include a water supply valve 51 coupled to the cabinet 10 and communicating with an external water source, a water supply pipe 52 extending from the water supply valve 51 to supply water, a detergent box 53 arranged to receive water from the water supply pipe 52 and store detergent, and a supply pipe 54 connecting the detergent box 53 to the tub 20 to supply at least one of the water and the detergent to the tub 20.

[0219] The detergent accommodated in the detergent box 53 may be diluted in the water from the water supply pipe 52 and supplied to the tub 20 through the supply pipe 53.

[0220] The detergent box 53 may include a housing fixed in the space between the top of the tub 20 and the cabinet 10, and a detergent accommodation portion disposed in the housing to be withdrawn forward.

[0221] The clothing treatment apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a drainage part 60 arranged to drain water inside the tub 20 to the outside of the cabinet 10.

[0222] The drainage part 60 may include a drainpipe 61 arranged to drain water from the tub 20, a drain pump 62 connected to the drainpipe 61 to provide power to drain the water to the outside of the cabinet 10, and an extension pipe 53 extending from the drain pump 62 to the outside of the cabinet 10.

[0223] To facilitate the draining of water from the tub 20 using gravity, the drain pump 62 and the drain pipe 61 may be arranged under the tub 20.

[0224] A gasket 28 may be arranged between the opening of the cabinet 10 and the tub inlet 27. The gasket 28 may prevent water inside the tub 20 from leaking into the cabinet 10. Further, the gasket 28 may be formed of an elastic material to prevent vibration of the tub 20 from being transmitted to the cabinet 10.

[0225] The clothing treatment apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include an input panel 11 arranged on the front side to receive instructions for operation of the clothing treatment apparatus.

[0226] The input panel 11 may be configured to receive a set of instructions for supply of power to the clothing treatment apparatus or for execution of a wash cycle, a drying cycle, or the like in which the clothing treatment apparatus may wash or dry clothing.

[0227] The input panel 11 may be provided as a user interface, and may include a display such as a liquid crystal display or an electric light to display information about the clothing treatment apparatus.

[0228] The clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may be configured to heat water, dry clothing (or objects to be dried or objects to be refreshed), and refresh (steam) the clothing.

[0229] To this end, the clothing treatment apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure may include an induction module I configured to heat a drum 30.

[0230] The induction module I may be used to perform at least one of washing, drying and refreshing (steaming).

[0231] The induction module I may be mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, and may include a coil 600 formed by winding wires. The induction module I serves to heat the circumferential surface of the drum 30 through a magnetic field generated by applying an electrical current to the coil 600.

[0232] Regarding how the induction module I heats the drum 30, Alternating current whose phase changes is applied to the coil 600 on the outer side of the circumferential surface of the drum 30, and the coil 600 forms a radial alternating magnetic field according to the Ampre's circuital law.

[0233] This alternating magnetic field is concentrated toward the drum 30, which is made of a conductor with high permeability. Permeability is the measure of magnetization of a medium in a given magnetic field. Eddy currents are formed in the drum 30 according to Faraday's law of induction. The eddy currents flow through the drum 30 made of the conductor and are converted to joule heat by the resistance of the drum 30. Thereby, the inner wall of the drum 30 is directly heated.

[0234] When the inner wall of the drum 30 is directly heated, the temperature of the air inside the drum 30 and the temperature of clothes in contact with the inner wall of the drum 30 increase together. This direct heating of the clothing enables faster drying compared to a drying apparatus that uses only an indirect heating method, such as hot air drying or low-temperature dehumidification drying.

[0235] Furthermore, even when the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure is configured as a washing machine as well as a dryer, the water may be heated without having a separate heating wire and flow channel exposed inside the tub 20, and may be continuously in contact with the inner and outer walls of the drum 30. Thus, the water may be heated more quickly than in the case where a separate heater is placed under the tub 20 and used for heating.

[0236] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an induction module I of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0237] The induction module I is mounted on the circumferential surface of the tub 20 and heats the circumferential surface of the drum 30 through a magnetic field generated by applying a current to the coil 600 formed by winding wires.

[0238] The induction module I may include a base 100 disposed to mount the coil 600 on a top surface of the tub 20. The base 100 may be fixed to the circumferential surface of the tub 20, such that it may be disposed on the upper side of a horizontal surface parallel to the ground by extending through the shaft 43.

[0239] The base 100 may be formed in a rectangular plate shape or oblong shape having a predetermined thickness, and may have a front-to-back length longer than a width corresponding to the circumferential direction of the tub 20.

[0240] The base 100 may include a base body 110 disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, a seating surface 120 arranged on an upper surface of the base body 110, the coil 600 being wound on the seating surface, a bottom surface 130 arranged on a lower surface of the base body 120 to face the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, and a fixing portion 140 provided to couple the base body 110 to the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20.

[0241] At least one of the base body 110 and the seating surface 120 may be curved in cross-section to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 on the drum 30.

[0242] Further, the base 100 may include a seating rib 200 protruding upward from the seating surface 120 to allow the coil to be wound. The seating rib 200 may extend from an inner side to an outer side of the seating surface 120 in a screw fashion to define an installation space 230 in which the coil 600 is seated or inserted.

[0243] In order to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 towards the drum 30 and not towards the cabinet 10, the induction module I may include a permanent magnet 310 arranged on the upper side of the base 100 as a bar magnet, and a magnet cover 320 arranged to fix the permanent magnet 310 to the upper portion of the base 100.

[0244] The permanent magnet 310 may include permanent magnets spaced apart from each other along the direction in which the coil 600 is wound. The permanent magnet 310 may be positioned on top of the coil 600 and disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wires forming the coil 600, such that they are disposed on top of both the inner and outer coils.

[0245] The magnet cover 320 may include a housing body 321 having a shape corresponding to the base 100, such as a rectangular plate shape or an oblong shape having a predetermined thickness, a magnet mounting portion 322 provided on the housing body 321 to accommodate the permanent magnet 310, and an air flow hole 323 formed through the housing body 321 and spaced apart from the magnet mounting portion 322.

[0246] The magnet mounting portion 322 define a space in which the permanent magnet 310 is accommodated and installed.

[0247] The induction module I may include a base cover 400 arranged to fix the magnet cover 320 to the base 100 and to prevent the coil 600 from being displaced.

[0248] The base cover 400 may include a cover body 410 having a rectangular plate shape or oblong shape having a predetermined thickness, and an air vent hole 420 provided in a center portion of the cover body 410 to allow heat (air) to flow by convection or to allow a blower fan 500 to be seated therein.

[0249] The blower fan 500 may be coupled to the base cover 400 to supply air from the base 100 into the induction module I.

[0250] The blower fan 500 may cause air to move through the induction module I to prevent the induction module I from overheating.

[0251] Specifically, air may be drawn into the base cover 400 through the air vent hole 420. Inside the induction module, a space is defined between the base cover 400, the magnet coupling part 300, and the base 100, and an air flow space is defined by the air flow hole 323 and the like. Also, the base body 110 is provided with a penetrated portion 111. Thus, air may cool the coil 600 in the inner space and be discharged to the outside of the induction module through the penetrated portion 111.

[0252] The magnet cover 320 and the base cover 400 may be provided as separate members, allowing air to flow over the top surface of the permanent magnet 310. Thereby, the permanent magnet 310 may be prevented from overheating.

[0253] Further, since the magnet cover 320 and the base cover 400 are separate members, the permanent magnet 310 may be easily attached and detached such that the permanent magnet 310 may be easily replaced. Also, since the part fixing the permanent magnet 310 does not have a closed surface, it may be easily injection molded.

[0254] Hereinafter, a structure for fixing the base 100, magnet cover 320 and base cover 400 to the tub 20 will be described.

[0255] First, the base 100 may include fixing portions 140 arranged at a corner of the base body 110 and provided with a fixing hole 141 into which a screw are inserted. The fixing portions 140 may protrude from both sides of each of the front and rear ends of the base body 110, respectively.

[0256] The tub 20 may be provided with multiple coupling portions 25 having a hollow portion communicating with the fixing hole 141.

[0257] Furthermore, the magnetic cover 320 may be arranged at a corner of the housing body 321 and may include a magnet fixing portion 330 having a magnetic fixing hole 331 communicating with the fixing hole 141 to allow a screw to be inserted into.

[0258] The magnetic fixing portion 330 may protrude from both sides of each of the front and rear ends of the housing body 321, respectively.

[0259] Further, the base cover 400 may include cover fixing portions 430 protruding from the front and rear ends of the cover body 410 and provided with a cover fixing hole 431 communicating with the fixing hole 141.

[0260] Accordingly, a screw may be arranged through the cover fixing hole 431, magnet fixing hole 331, fixing hole 141 to be fixed to the coupling portion 25.

[0261] FIG. 3 illustrates a base 100 of the induction module.

[0262] The induction module I may include a base 100 serving as a fixing member to fix the coil 600 to the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20. The base may be mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 to prevent the coil 600 from being displaced even when the tub 20 vibrates.

[0263] FIG. 3-(a) illustrates the top surface of the base 100, while FIG. 3-(b) illustrates the bottom surface of the base 100.

[0264] Referring to FIG. 3-(a), the base 100 may include a base body 110 disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, a seating surface 120 arranged on an upper surface of the base body 110 to allow the coil 600 to be seated thereon, and a seating rib 200 protruding from the seating surface 120 to allow the coil 600 to be wound to be fixed.

[0265] The base body 110 may have a penetrated portion 111 formed in a thickness direction.

[0266] The seating rib 200 may extend upward of the penetrated portion 111. In other words, the seating rib 200 may be formed on the seating surface 120 regardless of the shape of the penetrated portion 111.

[0267] The seating rib 200 may extend in a direction extending along the perimeter of the seating surface 120 from an inner side to an outer side.

[0268] The seating ribs 200 extending from the inner side to the outer side may be spaced apart from each other at a constant distance such that an installation space 230 in which the coil 600 is placed may be defined between the seating ribs 200.

[0269] The seating ribs 200 may extend in a circular, elliptical shape with increasing diameters from an inner to an outer side of the seating surface. Alternatively, the seating ribs 200 may extend to form a shape of tracks that increase in area from the inner side to the outer side of the seating surface.

[0270] The track shape may be a mixture of straight line portions and curved portions, which may maximize the area of the coil 600 seated on the seating surface 120, compared to a circular shape or an elliptical shape.

[0271] The shape of the seating ribs 200 extension on the seating surface 120 may determine the shape of windings of the coil 600.

[0272] The seating ribs 200 may protrude or extend upward from the seating surface 120, and may have a height greater than the thickness of the coil 600.

[0273] The seating ribs 200 may be spaced apart from each other such that the wound coils 600 do not contact each other, thereby preventing short circuits. Thus, the coils 600 wound on the seating ribs 200 may not need to be coated with a separate insulating film or the thickness of the insulating film may be minimized. Accordingly, production costs may be reduced.

[0274] The seating ribs 200 may form a slot having a narrower width than the diameter of the wire of the coil 600 such that the coil 600 is press-fitted. The width of the installation space 230 may be 93% to 97% of the diameter of the wire of the coil 600.

[0275] By When press-fitting the coil 600 into the installation space 230, the coil 600 may be held in the installation space 230 even when vibrations of the tub 20 are transmitted to the coil 600. Thus, the coil 600 may be prevented from being displaced from the installation space 230, and noise, which may be generated due to play, may be prevented because movement is suppressed.

[0276] The upper ends of the seating ribs 200 may be bent after the coil 600 is inserted to shield at least a portion of the top of the coil 600.

[0277] To this end, the upper ends of the seating ribs 200 may be bent or heat-treated.

[0278] As such, the upper ends of the seating ribs 200 may form a fixing hook 221 to fix the coil 600.

[0279] Referring to FIG. 6-(a), after the coil 600 is press-fitted into the installation space 230, the seating ribs 200 may be melted while the top surface thereof is pressurized. The melted upper ends of the seating ribs 200 may then spread to both sides to cover the top of the coil 600 on both sides.

[0280] By fixing the coil 600 in the installation space 230 by press-fitting and melting the upper ends of the seating ribs 200, the paths along which the coil 600 may escape may be physically blocked, the movement of the coil 600 may be prevented. Thereby, noise may be prevented in the event of vibration of the tub 20, and the durability of the parts may be improved by eliminating play between the parts.

[0281] While the coil 600 is described as being arranged on the top surface of the base 100, the seating ribs 200 may protrude downward from the base 100 such that the coil 600 is arranged on the bottom surface of the base 100.

[0282] FIG. 3-(b) illustrates the bottom surface of the base 100.

[0283] The penetrated portion 111 may be exposed on the bottom surface 130 of the base 110.

[0284] Also, referring to FIG. 3-(b), the bottom surface of the base 110 may be provided with support bars 131.

[0285] The support bars 131 may be arranged to enhance the contact between the base 100 and the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 and to increase the rigidity of the base 100.

[0286] The base 100 may include a through hole 112 in the center of the seating surface 120 on which the coil 600 is not wound. The through hole may include multiple through holes spaced apart from each other at regular intervals in the front-to-back direction of the tub 20.

[0287] The support bars 131 may radially extend from the through holes 112 across the base 100.

[0288] When the fixing portions 140 are fixed to the coupling portions 25 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20, the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 is pressed by the support bars 131. Thus, the base 100 may be coupled to the tub 20 with more pressure than when the entirety of the base 100 is brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20.

[0289] As a result, the base 100 does not easily move or disengage from the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 even when the tub 20 vibrates.

[0290] FIG. 4 illustrates the structure of a coil 600 of the induction module.

[0291] The seating ribs 200 may extend from positions adjacent the outermost periphery of the seating surface 120 toward the center in a winding manner, and the coil 600 may be arranged between the seating ribs 200 to be wound.

[0292] The wire forming the coil 600 may be press-fitted between the seating ribs 200 to make a surface contact.

[0293] The clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a controller 15 configured to control the supply of current to the coil 600. Both ends of the coil 600 may be coupled to the controller 15.

[0294] One end of the coil 600 may extend into a through hole 321 provided in the center of the seating surface 120 and the opposite end thereof may extend from the seating surface 120 to an outermost side of the seating ribs 200.

[0295] The coil 600 may extend from the controller 15 to the seating surface 120 through the bottom surface 130 of the base body 110 and be wound on the seating ribs 200. Then, it may be connected to the controller 15.

[0296] In this case, the coil wound on the seating ribs 200 may extend back to the bottom surface 130 and connect to the controller 15. As the coil 600 is connected to the base 100 through the bottom surface, which is the point at which the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 is subject to the smallest vibration displacement, the vibration phase difference formed along a wire 81a may be reduced, thereby preventing disconnection and dislodgment.

[0297] Both ends of the coil 600 may extend to the rear of the tub 20 to extend to the controller 15. The rear of the tub 20 is closer to the drive part 40, and may thus have a smaller amplitude.

[0298] FIG. 5 illustrates a specific structure of the magnet cover 320.

[0299] The induction module I may further include a magnet cover 320 coupled to the base 100 to cover the installation space 230.

[0300] The magnet cover 320 may include a housing body 321 arranged to be coupled to the top surface of the base 100 and to prevent the coil 600 and permanent magnet 310 from being displaced.

[0301] A bottom surface of the housing body 321 may be formed to closely contact the upper ends of the seating ribs 200 of the base 100.

[0302] The bottom surface of the magnetic cover 320 may include multiple magnet mounting portions 322 that protrude downward.

[0303] The magnet mounting portions 322 may provide space to accommodate the permanent magnet 310, and may closely contact the upper ends of the seating ribs 320 to shield the seating ribs 320 with greater pressure.

[0304] Thus, despite the vibration of the tub 20, noise or displacement of the coil 600 resulting from play may be avoided.

[0305] Multiple magnet mounting portions 322 may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the coil 600. Further, they may be arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coil 600. Thus, the entire coil may be securely fixed even without pressing the entire coil.

[0306] The magnet mounting portions 322 may be integrated with the housing body 321. Thus, the magnet mounting portions 322 press the coil 600 when the magnet cover 320 is coupled to the base 100. Accordingly, there is no need for a separate means or step to press the coil 600.

[0307] The permanent magnet 310 may be inserted into the magnet mounting portions 322 to be mounted therein. Thus, once the permanent magnet 310 is fixed to the magnet cover 320, the permanent magnet may be held in place on top of the coil 600 as the magnet cover 320 is coupled to the base housing 100.

[0308] Preferably, the permanent magnets 310 may each be disposed at a specific location on the top surface of the coil 600 to efficiently concentrate the magnetic field toward the drum 30. Therefore, if the permanent magnets 310 move with the vibration of the tub 20, it may cause noise as well as a decrease in heating efficiency

[0309] More specifically, the magnet mounting portion 322 may protrude downward from the bottom surface of the magnet cover 320 to form two side walls facing each other, and may have an open surface 3221 that is open downward such that the bottom surface of the permanent magnet 310 mounted in the magnet mounting portion 322 may face one surface of the coil 600.

[0310] In this case, the side-to-side movement of the permanent magnet 310 may be restrained by the side walls, and the open surface 3221 may allow the permanent magnet 310 to be closer to the top surface of the coil 600.

[0311] As the permanent magnets 310 are positioned closer to the coil 600, the magnetic field may be more intensively directed toward the drum 30, resulting in stable and uniform heating of the drum 30.

[0312] The magnet mounting portion 322 may further include a stop portion protruding inward to prevent the permanent magnet 310 from being displaced downward.

[0313] Further, the magnet cover 320 may include detachable hooks 324 arranged at both corners to protrude downward and be detachably coupled to the base 100.

[0314] FIG. 6 illustrates the arrangement of the coil 600 and permanent magnets 310 provided in the induction module I.

[0315] The coil 600 may be arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the tub 20 in the shape of concentric circles, ellipses, tracks, or the like.

[0316] The permanent magnets 310 serve as a blocking member against magnetic field transmission to prevent other surrounding elements besides the drum 30 from being heated, and also serve to concentrate the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 toward the drum 30 to increase heating efficiency.

[0317] The permanent magnet 310 may include a bar magnet. Preferably, it may be positioned on top of the coil 600 and disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coil 600. This is intended to cover both the inner and outer coils simultaneously.

[0318] The permanent magnet 310 may include multiple bar magnets of the same size. The multiple permanent magnets 310 may be spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the coil 600.

[0319] If the permanent magnets 310 are disposed only at certain locations, the amount of magnetic field radiated to the drum 30 will vary from one portion to another of the circumferential surface of the drum 30, making uniform heating difficult. Therefore, the multiple permanent magnets 310 may be spaced apart from each other along the perimeter of the coil 600 in order to direct the magnetic field generated by the coil 600 uniformly toward the drum 30.

[0320] Further, given the same number of permanent magnets 310, they are preferably densely disposed on portions of the coil 600 adjacent to the front and rear of the tub 20.

[0321] Specifically, the coil 600 may be divided into a first straight portion 610 extending in a front-to-back direction, a curved portion 620 provided at both ends of the straight portion, and a second straight portion 630 disposed at the front and rear.

[0322] The first straight portion 610 may be longer than the second straight portion 630, corresponding to the length of the drum 30.

[0323] More permanent magnets may be arranged on the curved portion 620 and the second straight portion 630 than on the first straight portion 610. This may allow more magnetic field to be radiated over a smaller area of the coil 600 to uniformly heat the drum 30.

[0324] FIG. 7 illustrates arrangement of a water level sensor of the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0325] Referring to FIG. 7-(a), the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include a water level sensor 80 configured to sense a water level inside the tub 20.

[0326] The water level sensor 80 may include a connection tube 82 connected to the tub 20, and a sensing part 81 configured to sense a change in pressure in the connection tube 82.

[0327] The sensing part 81 may include a fixing portion 811 to which an end of the connection tube 82 is fixed, a variable portion 812 whose position or vibration frequency varies according to a change in the pressure applied to the fixing portion 811, and an accommodation case 817 providing a space in which the variable portion 813 vibrates or moves.

[0328] The accommodation case 817 may include a vibration support 815 that supports the variable portion 812 while allowing the variable portion 812 to vary or vibrate.

[0329] The lower portion of the variable portion 812 may be arranged to face the fixing portion 811 and the vibration support 815 may be supported on an upper portion of the variable portion. Thus, the variable portion 812 may rise toward the vibration support 815, may move toward the fixing portion 811, or may vibrate back and forth between the vibration support 815 and the fixing portion 811 in response to a change in pressure in the connection tube 82 that affects the fixing portion 811.

[0330] The variable portion 812 may have a magnetic member 813, such as a permanent magnet, disposed on an outer circumferential surface thereof. Further, the accommodation case 817 may be provided with a water level coil 814 that generates an induced current according to a change in position or vibration of the permanent magnet. The water level sensor 80 may further include a capacitor 816 connected to the water level coil 814 to rectify the induced current and transmit the rectified current to the controller 15.

[0331] The controller 15 may sense the water level inside the tub 20 by calculating at least one of a change in position, a vibration period, or a vibration frequency of the magnetic member 813 using the capacitor 816.

[0332] The pressure inside the tub 20 may act on the connection tube 82. Accordingly, when the water level in the tub 20 is low, the pressure inside the tub 20 is not high, and therefore the variable portion 812 may be disposed close to the connection tube 82 to vibrate at a first frequency, or remain seated in the accommodation case 817.

[0333] Referring to FIG. 7-(b), when water is supplied to the tub 20 and the water level inside the tub 20 rises, the air inside the tub 20 may be compressed, causing the pressure inside the tub 20 to rise. Then, the pressure inside the tub 20 may act on the connection tube 82, causing the pressure inside the accommodation case 817 to rise. The variable portion 812 may rise, and may be positioned at a higher position than when the water level is low, or vibrate at a second frequency toward the vibration support 815 at a position further spaced apart from the connection pipe 82.

[0334] The vibration support 815 may push against the variable portion 812, and the variable portion 812 may rise according to the increased pressure in the connection tube 82. Thus, the variable portion 812 may vibrate at the second frequency between the vibration support 815 and the connection tube 82.

[0335] In this case, the vibration support 815 pushes the variable portion 812 at a position where it is shorted than when the water level is low. Accordingly, the second frequency may be different from the first frequency. For example, the second frequency may be lower than the first frequency.

[0336] When the vibration frequency of the variable portion 812 changes from the first frequency to the second frequency, or the position of the variable portion 812 varies, the frequency and position of the magnetic member 813 may be varied, and the induced current generated in the coil 817 may be varied.

[0337] The capacitor 816 may calculate the water level of the tub 20 with the induced current delivered from the coil 817. Alternatively, it may rectify the induced current and transmit the rectified current to the controller 15, and the controller 15 may calculate the water level of the tub 20 with the rectified current.

[0338] The structure described above is merely one embodiment of the water level sensor 80, but the water level sensor 80 may be configured in any form as long as the water level sensor 80 is capable of sensing the water level in the tub 20.

[0339] FIG. 8 illustrates a location where the water level sensor is arranged.

[0340] FIG. 8-(a) is a perspective view illustrating mounting of the water level sensor, and FIG. 8-(b) is a cross-sectional view illustrating mounting of the water level sensor.

[0341] The tub 20 is provided with a drainage part at the bottom, and the two side surfaces of the tub 20 are arranged adjacent to the side panels 12 and 13 of the cabinet.

[0342] Therefore, the induction module I and the controller 15 may be disposed above the tub 20.

[0343] The induction module I generates a magnetic field and the controller 15 includes a PCB that may be affected by the magnetic field. Accordingly, the induction module I may be arranged spaced apart from the controller 15.

[0344] Therefore, the induction module I may be mounted on the upper portion of the tub 20 to prevent collision with the side panels 12 and 13.

[0345] In the front load-type type clothing treatment apparatus, the tub 20 is arranged in a cylindrical shape extending from the front to the rear, and thus the space enclosed by the upper portion of the tub, the side panels 12 and 13, and the upper panel is set to be larger than the opening of the tub 20. Accordingly, the detergent box 53 may be disposed adjacent to one of the one side panel 12 and the opposite side panel 13.

[0346] Since the water supply pipe 52 extends from the rear of the detergent box 53, the controller 15 may be disposed adjacent to the other one of the one side panel 12 and the opposite side panel 13.

[0347] The controller 15 may be coupled to and fixed to a side panel so as to minimize the influence of the magnetic field generated by the induction module I. For example, in the case where the detergent box 53 is disposed close to the one side panel 12, the controller 15 may be disposed close to the opposite side panel 13.

[0348] The water level sensor 80 may be configured to sense the water level inside the tub 20 using the connection tube 82 and the sensing part 81. Thus, the sensing part 81 may be disposed at least higher than the maximum water level inside the tub 20. Therefore, the water level sensor 80 may be disposed at a position where at least the height thereof overlaps with the detergent box 53, the controller 15 and the induction module I.

[0349] The induction module I may be disposed at the top center of the tub 20, or may be biased towards the controller 15 by an angle A in order to be spaced apart from the detergent box 53. The angle A may be set to be 5 degrees to 10 degrees.

[0350] However, the induction module I may be disposed closer to the detergent box 53 than to the controller 15 and the water level sensor 80. In other words, the distance U between the induction module I and the detergent box 53 may be set to be shorter than the distance between the induction module I and the water level sensor 80 or the controller 15.

[0351] As a result, the influence of the magnetic field generated by the induction module I on the water level sensor 80 and the controller 15 may be minimized.

[0352] Nevertheless, since the water level sensor 80 is configured to sense the water level using the water level coil 814 and the magnetic member 813, it is subject to the magnetic field to a greater extent than the controller 15. Therefore, when a strong induced current is generated by driving the induction module I, the magnetic member 813 may be additionally subjected to a moving force by the induced current, and the water level coil 814 may also generate an additional current by the induced current. As a result, the water level sensor 80 may incorrectly sense the water level in the tub 20, and may transmit incorrect water level information and water level current to the controller 15.

[0353] FIG. 9 illustrates a water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 when the induction module I is driven.

[0354] The clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure controls the drive part 40 to be driven when the induction module I is driven. Since only one side of the drum 30 is heated when the induction module I is driven, the controller 15 is set to drive the drive part 40 as well in order to heat the entire drum 30 uniformly.

[0355] Referring to FIG. 9-(a), in a first section 1 in which the induction module I is driven, a second section 2 in which the drive part 40 is driven may be arranged in an overlapping manner. Further, in a section where the induction module I stops, the drive part 40 also stops. This section may be defined as a third section.

[0356] Referring to FIG. 9-(b), it may be seen that the water level sensed by the water level sensor 40 in the third section is different from the water level sensed by the water level sensor 40 in the first and second sections.

[0357] For example, when the frequency of the magnetic member 213 sensed by the water level sensor 80 in the third section is 244 Hz, the frequency of the magnetic member 213 sensed in the first and second sections may correspond to 255 Hz. This is a frequency change corresponding to an error of 4 to 5% from the steady state, which, when translated into an actual error in water level, may correspond to an error range in which normal cannot be distinguished from abnormal, or 5 cm or more is not unacceptable.

[0358] It may be seen that the magnetic field generated by the induction module I has significantly affected the water level sensor 80.

[0359] Of course, the water level connected to the connection tube 82 by centrifugal force due to the rotation of the drive part 40 in the second section is lower than the normal level due to the magnetic field. However, considering that the range in which the frequency sensed by the water level sensor 80 varies depending on the change of the rotation time or RPM of the drive part 40 in the second section, the influence of the magnetic field generated by the induction module I may be greater.

[0360] The water level sensor 80 may sense the water level based on the induced current or frequency generated by the magnetic member 813 or the water level coil 814 in real time, rather than operating only at a certain point in time, and transmit the sensed water level to the controller 15.

[0361] The frequency sensed by the water level sensor 80 when the induction module I is operating is different from the frequency sensed when the induction module I is not operating. Accordingly, the controller 15 may determine, as the water level inside the tub 20, the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 when the induction module I is not operating, and may disregard the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 when the induction module I is operating.

[0362] The controller 15 checks the water level of the water level sensor 80 in a case of a cycle in which the water level in the tub 20 changes, or in a case where the water supply valve 51 or the drain pump 62 is damaged.

[0363] In other words, the controller 15 may check the water level in the tub 20 by sensing the water level through the water level sensor 80 in the case of a cycle in which the water level in the tub 20 changes, or when the water level in the tub 20 changes although the water level in the tub 20 should be maintained. However, even in this case, the controller 15 may interrupt or delay checking the water level in the tub 20 if the induction module I is operating.

[0364] When the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 corresponds to an abnormal water level, the controller 15 may stop driving at least one of the water supply part 50, the drainage part 60, the drive part 40, or the induction module I.

[0365] For example, the controller 15 may be configured to stop driving one or more of the water supply part 50, the drainage part 60, the drive part 40, and the induction module I when the water level in the tub 20 reaches a water level limit, which is a maximum allowable water level.

[0366] Also, when the water level in the tub 20 decreases below an allowable value during the wash cycle, rinse cycle, or the like, the controller 15 may determine that the drainage part 60 is abnormal, and stop driving one or more of the water supply part 50, the drainage part 60, the drive part 40, and the induction module I.

[0367] Further, when the water level in the tub 20 increases above an allowable value during the dehydration cycle, the controller 15 may determine that the water supply part 50 is abnormal, and stop driving at least one of the water supply part 50, the drainage part 60, the drive part 40, and the induction module I. The allowable value may be a water level corresponding to the dehydration of water at the maximum amount of clothing.

[0368] However, in all the foregoing cases, the controller 15 may disregard an abnormal water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 while the induction module I is driven. In other words, the controller may maintain the operation of the water supply part 50, the drainage part 60, the induction module I, and the drive part 40 even if the water level sensor 80 senses an abnormal water level in any of the foregoing processes. The controller 15 may check the abnormal water level once more when the induction module I is stopped.

[0369] Further, when sensing the water level in the tub 20, the controller 15 may perform a control operation to stop driving the induction module I.

[0370] The controller 15 may determine the water level of the water level sensor 80 as the water level in the tub after a first time or a certain time elapses since the driving of the induction module I is stopped.

[0371] The certain time may correspond to a time during which the generated magnetic field disappears according to stopping of the driving of the induction module I, and the internal components such as the water level coil 814 and the magnetic member 813 returns to a state at a normal water level to ensure re-sensing of the normal water level.

[0372] Further, the certain time may correspond to a time during which driving of the drive part 40 is stopped to ensure that the water level in the tub 20 is stabilized.

[0373] For example, the certain time may be set to 10 seconds or less, and may be set to 2 seconds or more. For example, it may be set to 4 seconds.

[0374] The controller 15 may determine, as the water level in the tub 20, the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 a certain time after stopping driving the induction module I to sense the water level.

[0375] Further the controller 15 may determine, as the water level in the tub 20, the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 a certain time after the driving of the induction module I is stopped.

[0376] Hereinafter, embodiments of a control method in which the controller 15 uses the water level sensor 80 when the induction module I is installed will be described in detail.

[0377] FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus performed in a drain process according to the present disclosure.

[0378] FIG. 10-(a) illustrates a method of controlling the drain process, and FIG. 10-(b) illustrates an embodiment in which the drain process is applied.

[0379] The controller 15 may start driving the drainage part 60 when the driving of the induction module I is stopped.

[0380] Alternatively, the controller 15 may stop driving the induction module I and start driving the drainage part 60.

[0381] Specifically, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform a stopping step Al of stopping driving the induction module I when it is necessary to perform a drain cycle or to drive the drain pump 62.

[0382] When the induction module I is being driven for a set time, the stopping step Al may correspond to a step of waiting for the driving to stop.

[0383] Once the stopping step Al is performed, the controller 15 may perform a drain step A2 of driving the drain pump 62.

[0384] The controller 15 may perform a sensing step A3 of sensing the water level in the tub 20 in real time using the water level sensor 80.

[0385] Since the sensing step A3 corresponds to a time after the driving of the induction module I is stopped, the controller 15 may determine the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 as a real-time water level.

[0386] When the target water level is reached in the sensing step A3, the controller 15 may perform a drain termination step A4 of terminating the driving of the drain pump 62.

[0387] The target water level may correspond to an empty water level when all the water inside the tub 20 is drained.

[0388] Further, when the drain pipe 63 has an element to stop draining water, such as a siphon brake, the target water level may correspond to a water level set by the controller 15 rather than the empty water level.

[0389] Consequently, the controller 15 may control the drain pump 62 to start operating after the driving of the induction module I is stopped, or after waiting for the driving of the induction module I to be stopped.

[0390] Further, the controller 15 may complete driving of the drain pump 62 before the induction module I starts to be driven again after the driving of the induction module I is stopped, or after waiting for the driving of the induction module I to be stopped.

[0391] FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus performed in the drain process according to the present disclosure.

[0392] FIG. 11-(a) illustrates another method of controlling the drain process, and FIG. 11-(b) illustrates an embodiment of applying the drain process.

[0393] The clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform a drain step B1 of driving the drain pump 62 when a drain cycle to drain water from the tub 20 is needed.

[0394] The drain step B1 may be performed when the tub 20 needs to be drained to resupply water in the wash cycle, when the wash cycle is terminated, when the tub 20 needs to be drained to resupply water in the rinse cycle, when the rinse cycle is terminated, when water level rises due to supply of water supplied during the dehydration cycle or due to dehydration of water from the clothing, or when the dehydration cycle is terminated.

[0395] The drain step B1 may be performed regardless of whether the induction module I is driven. In other words, the controller 15 may perform the drain step B1 at a time when the drain step B1 is needed regardless of whether the induction module I is driven.

[0396] Subsequently, the controller 15 may perform a stopping step B2 of stopping driving the induction module I.

[0397] In the stopping step B2, the controller 15 may stops driving the induction module I. It may also be a step in which the controller 15 waits for the driving of the induction module I to be terminated.

[0398] When the stopping step B2 is performed, the induction module I is not driven, and therefore the controller 15 may perform a sensing step B3 of sensing a target water level with the water level sensor 80.

[0399] When the target water level is reached in the sensing step B3, the controller 15 may perform a termination step B4 of terminating the driving of the drain pump 62.

[0400] The target water level may correspond to an empty water level at which all the water inside the tub 20 is drained.

[0401] Furthermore, when the drain pipe 63 has an element to stop draining water, such as a siphon brake, the target water level may correspond to a water level set by the controller 15 rather than the empty water level.

[0402] Consequently, the controller 15 may control driving of the drain pump 62 to be terminated after the driving of the induction module I is stopped, or after waiting for the driving of the induction module I to be stopped.

[0403] In other words, since it is important to drain the water from the tub 20 to a target level in the drain cycle, the start of the drain cycle may overlap with the driving of the induction module I, but the termination of the drain cycle may be arranged after the time when the induction module I is terminated.

[0404] As a result, the controller 15 may terminate the driving of the drain pump 62 when the driving of the induction module I is stopped, and it can accurately sense, through the water level sensor 80, that the water level in the tub 20 has reached a target water level.

[0405] When the target water level is an empty water level, the controller 15 is allowed to continue to drive the drain pump 62 even when drainage is completed. Therefore, even when the drainage is already completed while the induction module I is being driven, the driving of the drain pump 62 may be terminated when the water level sensor 80 senses that the driving of the induction module I has been stopped and the empty water level has been reached.

[0406] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus performed in the water supply process according to the present disclosure.

[0407] FIG. 12-(a) illustrates a method of controlling the water supply process, and FIG. 12-(b) illustrates an embodiment in which the water supply process is applied.

[0408] The controller 15 may start driving the water supply part 50 when the driving of the induction module I is stopped.

[0409] Alternatively, the controller 15 may stop driving the induction module I and start driving the water supply part 60.

[0410] Specifically, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform a stopping step C1 of stopping driving the induction module I when it is necessary to perform a water supply cycle or to drive the water supply valve 51.

[0411] When the induction module I is being driven for a set time, the stopping step C1 may correspond to a step of waiting for the driving of the induction module I to stop.

[0412] Once the stopping step C1 is performed, the controller 15 may perform a water supply step C2 to drive the water supply valve 51.

[0413] The controller 15 may perform a sensing step C3 of sensing the water level in the tub 20 in real time using the water level sensor 80.

[0414] Since the sensing step C3 corresponds to a time after the driving of the induction module I is stopped, the controller 15 may determine the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 as a real-time water level.

[0415] When the target water level is reached in the sensing step C3, the controller 15 may perform a water supply termination step C4 of terminating the driving of the water supply valve 51.

[0416] The target water level may be a washing water level set according to the amount of the clothing, a rinsing water level set according to the amount of the clothing, or a water level required to supply condensate water in the dehydration operation.

[0417] Consequently, the controller 15 may control the water supply valve 51 to start operating after the driving of the induction module I is stopped, or after waiting for the driving of the induction module I to be stopped.

[0418] Further, the controller 15 may complete driving of the water supply valve 51 before the induction module I starts to be driven again after the driving of the induction module I is stopped, or after waiting for the driving of the induction module I to be stopped.

[0419] FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus performed in the water supply process according to the present disclosure.

[0420] FIG. 13-(a) illustrates another method of controlling the water supply process, and FIG. 13-(b) illustrates an embodiment in which the water supply process is applied.

[0421] When a water supply cycle to supply water to the tub 20 is needed, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform a water supply step DI of driving the water supply valve 51.

[0422] The water supply step D1 may be performed when it is necessary to supply water to the tub 20 for washing in the wash cycle, when it is necessary to supply water to the tub 20 for rinsing in the rinse cycle, when it is necessary to condense moisture in hot air in the dehydration cycle.

[0423] The water supply step D1 may be performed regardless of whether the induction module I is driven or not. In other words, the controller 15 may perform the water supply step D1 at a time when it is needed regardless of whether the induction module I is driven or not.

[0424] Subsequently, the controller 15 may perform a stopping step D2 of stopping driving the induction module I.

[0425] In the stopping step D2, the controller 15 may stops driving the induction module I. It may also be a step in which the controller 15 waits for the driving of the induction module I to be terminated.

[0426] When the stopping step D2 is performed, the induction module I is not driven, and therefore the controller 15 may perform a sensing step D3 of sensing a target water level with the water level sensor 80.

[0427] When the target water level is reached in the sensing step D3, the controller 15 may perform a termination step D4 of terminating the driving of the water supply valve 51.

[0428] Consequently, the controller 15 may control driving of the water supply valve 51 to be terminated after the driving of the induction module I is stopped, or after waiting for the driving of the induction module I to be stopped.

[0429] In other words, since it is important to supply water into the tub 20 up to a target level in the water supply cycle, the start of the water supply cycle may overlap with the driving of the induction module I, but the termination of the water supply cycle may be arranged after the time when the induction module I is terminated.

[0430] Even when the driving of the induction module I is necessary, the controller 15 controls the induction module I such that the induction module I is not driven continuously for a long period of time, but is stopped for a certain time and restarted, in order to prevent the induction module I from being overloaded.

[0431] The time during which the induction module I is driven may be set such that water cannot be supplied to the target water level in the tub 20 at once, even when the water supply valve 51 is continuously left open during that time.

[0432] Alternatively, the time during which the induction module I is driven may be set to a time during which the water level in the tub 20 cannot reach the target water level, even when the water supply valve 51 is opened for the time during which the induction module I is driven again even when the water level in the tub 20 is lower than the target water level during the immediately previous driving of the induction module I DL.

[0433] Thus, the controller 15 may control driving of the water supply valve 51 to be terminated after the induction module I is stopped.

[0434] As a result, the controller 15 may terminate the driving of the water supply valve 51 when the driving of the induction module I is stopped, and it can accurately sense, through the water level sensor 80, that the water level in the tub 20 has reached a target water level.

[0435] When the water level in the tub 20 has reached a water level limit in the sensing step D3, the controller 15 may stop driving at least one of the water supply valve 51, the drive part 40, or the induction module I.

[0436] Furthermore, when the controller 15 senses that the water level in the tub 20 has reached the water level limit or higher, the controller 15 may stop the operation of all electrical components of the clothing treatment apparatus.

[0437] The water level limit is a water level that cannot be reached in any case, which corresponds to a malfunction of the water supply valve 51 or a breakage of an element that closes the water supply valve 51. For example, it may be a water level that remains higher than the height of the shaft 43.

[0438] When the driving of the induction module I is stopped, the controller 15 may stop the driving of at least one of the water supply valve 51, the drive part 40, or the induction module I, even when it senses that a critical water level lower than the water level limit has been reached.

[0439] The critical water level may be set to a water level at which it is certain that the water level in the tub 20 will reach the water level limit or exceed the water level limit when the water supply valve 51 is kept open during the driving time of the induction module I, in consideration of the water supply flow rate of the water supply valve 51.

[0440] Thus, in the case where the controller 15 senses that the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 before driving of the induction module I has reached the critical water level, it may stop driving one or more of the electrical components of the clothing treatment apparatus or even cutting off the power supply even when the water level is lower than the water level limit.

[0441] Thereby, the water level in the tub 20 may be prevented from reaching the water level limit when the induction module I is driven.

[0442] FIG. 14 illustrates a structure for condensing moisture in a drying cycle in the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0443] The clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform a drying cycle of evaporating the moisture in the clothing accommodated in the drum 30 by heating the drum 30 by driving the induction module I.

[0444] However, even when the temperature inside the drum 30 is increased by driving the induction module I, and thus the moisture in the clothing is dried to a certain level, the humidity inside the drum 30 may remain high afterward. In this case, it may be difficult for the clothing to be further dried even when the drum 30 is further heated.

[0445] The clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may be configured to supply cooling water or condensate water to the air inside the tub 20 to reduce the humidity.

[0446] Referring to FIG. 14, the water supply part 50 may further include a condensing pipe 55 extending from the water supply valve 51 and directly connected to the rear surface of the tub 20. The condensing pipe 55 may be provided independently of the water supply pipe 52.

[0447] Cold water may be supplied into the tub 20 through the condensing pipe 55.

[0448] The cold water supplied through the condensing pipe 55 may cool the air inside the tub 20, thereby condensing the moisture contained in the air inside the tub 20.

[0449] When the air inside the tub 20 is heated by the drum 30 after the condensation, the air may have a lower relative humidity, and thus may additionally dry the moisture contained in the clothing.

[0450] When this process is repeated, not only water supplied from the condensing pipe 55 but also condensate water that has condensed from the air in the tub 20 may be collected in the lower portion of the tub 20.

[0451] Referring to FIG. 14-(b), the rear surface of the tub 20 may include a communication hole 23 in communication with the condensing tube 55, and a distribution rib extending forward from the communication hole 23 to evenly distribute cold water supplied from the condensing pipe 55 to the tub.

[0452] The cold water distributed by the distribution rib 54 may cool the air inside the tub 20 to condense moisture. Thus, a greater amount of water may be collected in the lower portion of the tub 20 than the water supplied from the condensing pipe 55.

[0453] The condensate water collected in the lower portion of the tub 20 may be reheated by the drum 30 and evaporated, which may again increase the humidity inside the tub 20, thus making it necessary to drain the water out of the tub 20.

[0454] Therefore, when the drying cycle is performed, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may periodically open the water supply valve 51 to supply water into the condensate pipe 55, and may drive the drain pump 62 to drain the condensate water collected in the tub 20.

[0455] Supplying water into the condensate pipe 55 may be defined as rear water supply to distinguish the supply from supplying water into the water supply pipe 52.

[0456] FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of performing water supply and drainage in the drying cycle.

[0457] Even when the water supply valve 51 is operated to supply water to the condensing pipe 55, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure needs to check whether an appropriate amount of condensate water is supplied or whether condensate water is actually supplied.

[0458] Furthermore, when an appropriate amount of condensate water is supplied, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure needs to stop opening the water supply valve 51.

[0459] For this purpose, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform a control operation such that the time at which opening of the water supply valve 51 ends is arranged in a section where the driving of the induction module I is stopped or terminated.

[0460] In other words, when the induction module I is not being driven, the controller 15 may drive the water supply valve 51 while checking through the water level sensor 80 whether an appropriate amount of condensate water has been supplied into the tub 20.

[0461] The controller 15 may drive the water supply valve 51 first in driving the induction module I. When driving of the water supply valve 51 ends, the controller 15 may check through the water level sensor 80 whether an appropriate amount of condensate has been supplied, and then terminate driving of the water supply valve 51.

[0462] The controller 15 may control the timing and duration of driving of the water supply valve 51 such that driving of the water supply valve 51 may be terminated in each period in which the driving of the induction module I is stopped, taking into account the supply flow rate of the water supply valve 51.

[0463] Of course, the controller 15 may also start driving the water supply valve 51 after the driving of the induction module I is stopped.

[0464] However, in order to prevent the drying cycle from being delayed when the driving of the induction module I is stopped until the driving of the water supply valve 51 is terminated, the controller 15 may drive the water supply valve 51 such that the water supply period overlaps with the driving of the induction module I, and terminate the driving of the water supply valve 51 such that only the end time of the water supply period is arranged when the induction module I is not being driven.

[0465] Furthermore, even when the drain pump 62 is driven to discharge the condensate water, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure needs to check whether the water in the tub 20 has actually been drained. Furthermore, it is necessary to stop driving the drain pump 62 when the drainage is completed.

[0466] To this end, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform a control operation such that the time to terminate driving of the drain pump 62 may be arranged in a period in which the driving of the induction module I is stopped or terminated.

[0467] In other words, when the induction module I is not being driven, the controller 15 may drive the drain pump 62 while checking through the water level sensor 80 whether all or at least a required amount of the condensate water inside the tub 20 has been drained.

[0468] The controller 15 may prioritize driving the drain pump 62 in driving the induction module I. The controller 15 may terminate the driving of the drain pump 62 after confirming through the water level sensor 80 that all or at least the required amount of the condensate water has been discharged.

[0469] The controller 15 may control the timing and duration of driving of the drain pump 62 such that driving of the drain pump 62 may be terminated in each period in which the driving of the induction module I is stopped, taking into account the amount of collected condensate water and the discharge flow rate of the drain pump 62.

[0470] Of course, the controller 15 may also start driving the drain pump 62 after the driving of the induction module I is stopped.

[0471] However, in order to prevent the drying cycle from being delayed when the operation of the induction module I is stopped until the driving of the drain pump 62 is terminated, the controller 15 may drive the drain pump 62 such that the drainage period overlaps with the driving, and terminate the driving of the drain pump 62 such that only the end time of the drainage period is arranged when the induction module I is not being driven.

[0472] Hereinafter, an abnormal water level condition of the clothing treatment apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 18.

[0473] As described above, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may use the water level sensor 80 to accurately perform a water supply cycle of supplying water to the tub 20 and a drain cycle of draining the water accommodated in the tub 20.

[0474] Further, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may use the water level sensor 80 to sense when a change in the water level in the tub 20 is abnormal. When the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 corresponds to an abnormal water level, the controller 15 may stop the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus. Further, the controller 15 may indicate the state information related to the abnormal water level visually or audibly through an indicator, or transmit the same to an external terminal or server such that the user may check the information remotely.

[0475] The abnormal water level may include an excessive water level (2 level) that is higher than the normal water level (1 level).

[0476] The normal water level (1 level) may be a specific water level.

[0477] Further, the normal water level (1 level) may correspond to an expected water level at each point in time when a course is performed in the clothing treatment apparatus. Thus, the normal water level (1 level) may differ among the respective points in time and may be determined as a specific water level range.

[0478] The excessive water level (2 level) may correspond to a water level limit, which is the maximum water level at which the tub 20 can accommodate water in performing a course, or may correspond to a critical water level which may reach the water level limit when water is supplied through the water supply valve 51 for a first time during which the induction module I is driven.

[0479] Further, the excessive water level (2 LEVEL) may be a water level at which an increase in the amount of water level change per unit time from the normal water level (1 LEVEL) corresponds to an amount of increase that cannot occur in normal operation of a course.

[0480] When the clothing treatment apparatus performs a random course, the tub 20 may reach the excessive water level (2 LEVEL).

[0481] For example, referring to FIG. 18, when the drum 30 is spun with detergent introduced into the tub 20, bubbles may be generated inside the tub 20 depending on the RPM of the drum 30 and the condition of the detergent and the clothing.

[0482] When the amount of generated bubbles is less than or equal to a reference value, it may be disregarded. However, when the amount is greater than the reference value, the bubbles may cause more excessive load when the drum 30 rotates, and the bubbles may leak out of the communication hole or the like disposed in the upper portion of the tub 20.

[0483] When bubbles are generated, the bubbles change the pressure inside the tub 20 and/or change the water level in the tub 20. Accordingly, the controller 15 may sense whether the amount of the bubbles generated in the tub 20 is greater than the reference value, using the water level sensor 80.

[0484] When the amount of the bubbles generated inside the tub 20 is greater than the reference value, the water level sensor 80 may sense that the water level in the tub 20 is an excessive water level.

[0485] When the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 is an excessive water level, the controller 15 may check whether bubbles have been generated inside the tub 20.

[0486] The water level in the tub 20 may reach the state of the excessive water level (2 level) even when bubbles are not generated.

[0487] Referring to FIG. 17, when a course is being performed while the water level in the tub 20 is a normal water level (1 level), additional water may be supplied from the water supply valve 51 due to due to a malfunction or breakage of the water supply valve 51.

[0488] Thus, the water level in the tub 20 may increase from the normal water level (1 level) to the excessive water level (2 level), and the water level sensor 80 may sense the increase.

[0489] The abnormal water level in the tub 20 may include a low water level (3 level) that is lower than the normal water level (1 level).

[0490] The low water level (3 level) may be a specific water level. For example, the low water level (3 level) may correspond to a water level corresponding to a lower surface of the drum 30.

[0491] Further, the low water level (3 level) may correspond to a water level that has been lowered to a greater extent than the change in water level that may be expected in the normal water level state.

[0492] For example, the low water level (3 level) may correspond to a water level state in which a greater amount of water has been discharged than the pump discharge of the drain pump 62 at the normal water level (1 level).

[0493] Referring to FIG. 18, the tub 20 may collide with the drum 30 or the like, causing breakage or cracking of the tub 20 or water leakage at a joining portion of the tub 20.

[0494] In other words, even though the drain pump 62 is not being driven in the tub 20, the water level in the tub 20 may decrease to reach the state of the low water level (3 level), and the water level sensor 80 may sense the state.

[0495] Through the water level sensor 80, the controller 15 may recognize whether the water level in the tub 20 has reached the abnormal water level state.

[0496] However, during driving of the induction module I, the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 is not reliable, and thus the controller 15 may fail to sense the abnormal water level state through the water level sensor 80 even when the water level in the tub 20 reaches the abnormal water level state.

[0497] If the abnormal water level in the tub 20 is left untouched while the induction module I is being driven, safety related accidents such as electric leakage, short circuit, and water leakage are likely to occur. Therefore, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may be configured to sense the water level in the tub 20 regardless of whether the induction module I is being driven or not, or to sense whether the water level in the tub 20 has reached the abnormal water level.

[0498] FIG. 19 illustrates a control method for sensing the water level in the tub by the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0499] The clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform a water level sensing step E1 in which the controller 15 should recognize the water level in the tub 20.

[0500] The water level sensing step E1 is a step in which the controller 15 senses the water level in the tub 20 through the water level sensor 80, and may be performed during a water supply process, a drain process, or a dehydration cycle.

[0501] Furthermore, the water level sensing step E1 may be performed in real time in order for the controller 15 to sense an abnormality in the driving of the water supply valve 51 or the drain pump 62.

[0502] Once the water level sensing step E1 is performed, the controller 15 may perform a driving determination step E2 of checking whether the induction module I is driven.

[0503] When the induction module I is not driven in the driving determination step E2, the controller 15 may perform a water level determination step E10 of determining the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 as the water level in the tub 20.

[0504] When the water level sensed in the water level determination step E10 corresponds to an abnormal water level, the controller 15 may block the driving of at least one of the drive part 40, the water supply valve 51, the drain pump 62, or the induction module I.

[0505] Further, the controller 15 may indicate state information related to the water level in the tub 20 corresponding to the abnormal water level through the indicator, or notify the external terminal and the server thereof.

[0506] When the induction module I is being driven in the driving determination step E2, the controller 15 cannot trust the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80. Therefore, the induction module I may perform a water level disregard step E9 of disregarding the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80.

[0507] However, while the induction module I is being driven, there is a possibility that the water level in the tub 20 corresponds to the abnormal water level, which may result from malfunctioning of the drain pump 62 or the water supply valve 51, failure of the drain pump 62 or the water supply valve 51, breakage of the tub 20, generation of excessive bubbles inside the tub 20, or the like.

[0508] Therefore, the controller 15 may perform the water level disregard step E9 of disregarding the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80 at the time when the induction module I is driven. However, it needs to sense whether the water level in the tub 20 corresponds to the abnormal water level.

[0509] The controller 15 may control the drive part 40 while the induction module I is being driven. In other words, even when the induction module I is being driven, the controller 15 may control the drive part 40 normally because the magnetic field generated by the induction module I has a very small effect on the driving state of the drive part 40.

[0510] The water accommodated in the tub 20 adds a frictional force to the drum 30. Therefore, when the water level in the tub 20 increases or decreases, the frictional force added to the drum 30 may vary. Accordingly, the load on the drive part 40 for maintaining the RPM of the drum 30 may vary, and the RPM of the drum 30 may vary.

[0511] For example, when the water level corresponds to the excessive water level (2 LEVEL), the RPM of the drum 30 may be slowed down to a greater extent than the tolerance range. When the water level corresponds to the low water level (3 LEVEL), the RPM of the drum 30 may be increased to a greater extent than the tolerance range.

[0512] The tolerance range may be defined as a range of 10% of the RPM of the drum driven at the normal water level (1 LEVEL).

[0513] For example, when the water level corresponds to the excessive water level (2 LEVEL), the load on the drive part 40 may be increased to a greater extent than a tolerance range. When the water level corresponds to the low water level (3 LEVEL), the load on the drive part 40 may be reduced to a greater extent than the tolerance range. The tolerance range may be defined as a range of 10% of the load on the drive part 40 driven at the normal water level (1 LEVEL).

[0514] The load on the drive part 40 may be one of an amount of current and an amount of power per unit time.

[0515] Once the driving determination step E2 related to driving of the induction module I is performed, the controller 15 may perform a driving sensing step E3 of sensing whether the RPM of the drum 30 or the load on the drive part 40 is increased or decreased beyond an acceptable range.

[0516] The driving sensing step E3 may be performed before the water level disregard step E9. Alternatively, the driving sensing step E3 and the water level disregard step E9 may be performed simultaneously. In other words, since the water level disregard step E9 is to disregard only the water level sensed by the water level sensor 80, the controller 15 may perform the driving sensing step E3 of sensing a change in the load on the drive part 40 or the RPM of the drum while performing the disregard the step.

[0517] In the driving sensing step E3, when the RPM of the drum 30 or the load on the drive part 40 is changed or maintained below an acceptable range, the water level disregard step E7 may be performed.

[0518] However, when the RPM of the drum 30 or the load on the drive part 40 changes beyond the acceptable range in the driving sensing step E3, the controller 15 may doubt that the water level in the tub 20 corresponds to the abnormal water level.

[0519] To check the abnormality, the controller 15 may perform a checking step E4 of sensing whether the water supply valve 51 or the drain pump 62 is driven.

[0520] The checking step E4 may include not simply sensing, by the controller 15, whether the water supply valve 51 is open or the drain pump 62 is driven, but also checking whether the water supply valve 51 or the drain pump 62 is controlled under a normal condition.

[0521] In other words, the checking step E4 may include checking, by the controller 15, whether the water supply valve 51 is open in the water supply cycle or whether the drain pump 62 is driven in the drain cycle.

[0522] When either the water supply valve 51 or the drain pump 62 is driven under the normal condition, a rapid change in the water level in the tub 20 may be expected. Therefore, the controller 15 may recognize the water level in the tub 20 as a normal water level even when it is doubted that it has reached the abnormal water level.

[0523] In other words, when the water supply valve 51 is controlled to be opened, or the drain pump 62 is controlled to be driven under the normal condition, the controller 15 may determine that the water level in the tub 20 is not the abnormal water level.

[0524] In other words, in the checking step E4, when the water supply valve 51 is controlled to be opened, or the drain pump 62 is controlled to be driven, the controller 15 may perform the water level disregard step E7.

[0525] As a result, the clothing treatment apparatus according to the present disclosure may perform the checking step E4 to prevent the operation of the clothing treatment apparatus from being stopped unnecessarily to cause a delay in washing or the like or cause the reliability to be doubted.

[0526] However, in the checking step E4, the controller 15 may sense that the change in the load on the drive part 40 or the RPM of the drum 30 exceeds an acceptable range, even though the water supply valve 51 should be controlled to be closed or the drain pump 62 should be controlled to be driven. In this case, the controller 15 may perform the driving stop step E5 of immediately stopping the driving of the induction module I.

[0527] In the driving stop step E5, the driving of the drive part 40 may also be stopped, and thus the spinning of the drum 30 may be stopped.

[0528] Once the driving stop step E5 is performed, the controller 15 may perform a re-sensing step E6 of re-sensing the water level in the tub 20.

[0529] When the water level in the tub 20 is sensed as an abnormal water level in the re-sensing step E6, the controller 15 may perform an abnormality sensing step E7 of determining an element having a problem.

[0530] When the water level in the tub 20 is sensed as an abnormal water level in the abnormal sensing step E7, the controller 15 may categorize the element causing the abnormal water level.

[0531] When the water level sensed in the re-sensing step E6 is sensed as a normal water level, the controller 15 may determine the sensed level as the final water level in the tub 20 sensed in the re-sensing step E6. Therefore, when the water level sensed in the re-sensing step E6 is sensed as the normal water level, a water level determination step E10 may be performed.

[0532] FIG. 20 illustrates the abnormality sensing step in detail.

[0533] When the abnormality sensing step E8 is performed, the controller 15 may sense a problem that has occurred inside the clothing treatment apparatus.

[0534] In the abnormality sensing step E8, the controller 15 may perform a maintenance determination step E81 of determining whether the water level in the tub 20 is maintained.

[0535] When the water level does not change in the maintenance determination step E81, the controller 15 may perform a bubble generation determination step E82 of determining that bubbles have been generated excessively inside the tub 20.

[0536] If there is no change in the water level when the drive part 40 and the induction module I are not driven, the water supply valve 51 and the drain pump 62 may not be in an abnormal state, and there may be no damage to the tub.

[0537] When the bubble generation determination step E82 is performed, the controller 15 may perform a cycle of removing the bubbles without stopping the operation of the electric components.

[0538] For example, the water supply valve 51 may be opened to remove the bubbles, or the induction module I may be driven to remove the bubbles.

[0539] In the abnormality sensing step E8, the controller 15 may perform an increase determination step E83 of determining whether the water level in the tub 20 is increased.

[0540] When the water level in the tub 20 continues to increase in the increase determination step E83, or has increased by more than an allowable amount, the controller 15 may perform the water supply valve failure determination step E84 of determining that the water supply valve 51 has failed.

[0541] In the abnormality sensing step E8, the controller 15 may perform a decrease determination step E85 of determining whether the water level in the tub 20 is decreased.

[0542] Further, when the water level in the tub 20 continues to decrease or has decreased by more than an allowable amount in the decrease determination step E85, the controller 15 may perform a water leakage determination step E86 of determining that a leak has occurred in the tub 20.

[0543] Thus, once a problem of each component has been categorized and determined in the abnormality determination step E8, the controller 15 may stop driving all electric components of the clothing treatment apparatus.

[0544] Further, the controller 15 may communicate the details of the determination to an outside through a communication module or the like, or indicate the same through the indicator or the like, depending on the state sensed in the water supply valve failure determination step E84 and the water leakage determination step E86. Thereafter, the controller 15 may then cut off the power to the clothing treatment apparatus.