# US 11,993,885 B2 · Washing machine and control method thereof

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- Number: US 11,993,885 B2
- Document ID: US11993885B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/612,380
- Filed: 2020-07-15
- Published: 2022-08-11
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2019-07-17
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Phal Jin Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993885B2

## CPC

- D06F 34/20: Parameters relating to constructional components, e.g. door sensors
- D06F 33/47: Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of pumps (safety arrangements D06F37/42)
- D06F 34/14: Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
- D06F 37/42: Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door
- G08B 21/22: responsive to presence or absence of persons
- G08B 21/24: Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
- D06F 39/14: Doors or covers; Securing means therefor
- D06F 2103/26: Imbalance; Noise level
- D06F 2103/40: Opening or locking status of doors
- D06F 2105/44: Opening, closing or locking of doors
- D06F 2105/54: Changing between normal operation mode and special operation modes, e.g. service mode, component cleaning mode or stand-by mode
- D06F 2105/60: Audible signals
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS

## Abstract

Disclosed are a washing machine capable of preventing the occurrence of an accident related to a child or pet becoming trapped inside a washing tub and a control method thereof. The washing machine according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a sound sensor configured to sense a sound measured at a washing tub, a controller configured to control a door and the washing tub according to a safe mode based on a sound sensed by the sound sensor, and a release signal sensor configured to sense a release signal to switch the door and the washing tub, controlled according to the safe mode by the controller, back to a normal mode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A washing machine comprising:
a washing tub;
a door configured to open and close the washing tub;
a sound sensor configured to sense a sound from the washing tub;
a controller configured to, based on the sound sensed by the sound sensor, control the door and the washing tub according to a safe mode;
a release signal sensor configured to, based on the door and the washing tub being controlled according to the safe mode, sense a release signal that is pre-set to be detected by the release signal sensor based on an approach of a user; and
a sound inducer configured to apply a stimulus to an object accommodated in the washing tub to thereby induce a sound from the object,
wherein the controller is configured to, based on the release signal sensor sensing the release signal, switch the door and the washing tub from the safe mode to a normal mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising:
a warning signal output interface configured to output a warning signal based on the sound sensed by the sound sensor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the sound sensor comprises:
an outer sound sensor disposed at an outside of the washing tub and configured to sense an outer sound generated from the outside of the washing tub; and
an inner sound sensor disposed at an inside of the washing tub and configured to detect an inner sound generated from the inside of the washing tub.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus comprises a vibration stimulus, and the sound inducer is configured to apply the vibration stimulus to the washing tub to thereby induce a reaction from the object in response to the vibration stimulus.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus comprises a sound stimulus, and the sound inducer is configured to apply the sound stimulus to an inside of the washing tub to thereby induce a reaction from the object in response to the sound stimulus.