Method and apparatus for determining drying of clothes

An apparatus for determining drying of clothes, comprising:

• a processor and a memory for storing program instructions executed by the processor;
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• acquire an intake air temperature at an air inlet of a drum;
• calculate a change rate of the intake air temperature detected by the temperature detection unit;
• compare the change rate of the intake air temperature to a preset temperature change rate ks, and determine whether drying of clothes is completed according to a comparison result;
• after acquiring the intake air temperature at the air inlet of the drum and before calculating the change rate of the intake air temperature at the air inlet of the drum:
• stop heating the intake air when the intake air temperature at the air inlet of the drum satisfies Tin≥Th;
• start the heating the intake air when the intake air temperature at the air inlet of the drum satisfies Tin≤T1;
• wherein the step of calculating the change rate of the intake air temperature at the air inlet of the drum comprises:
• calculating a change rate k of the intake air temperature from T1 to Th,
• wherein k=(Th−T1)/t, t is time taken for the intake air temperature to increase from T1 to Th;
• Th is a temperature at which the heating of the intake air is stopped, and T1 is a temperature at which the heating of the intake air is started, and when the intake air temperature is greater than or equal to Th, the heating of the intake air is stopped, and when the intake air temperature is less than or equal to T1, the heating of the intake air is started;
• wherein the step of determining that the drying of the clothes is completed when the relationship between the change rate of the intake air temperature and the preset temperature change rate ks satisfies the determination condition comprises:
• taking time taken for the intake air temperature to decrease from Th to T1 and then increase from T1 to Th as a cycle, determining heating-up time t1, t2, t3, . . . , tn in each cycle, and calculating a heating-up change rate k1, k2, k3, . . . , kn in each cycle;
• determining the heating-up change rate kn in each cycle, if kn≥ks, determining that the clothes are dried, and ending the drying;
• and
• if kn<ks, determining that the clothes are not yet dried and continuing the drying.