# US 12,006,619 B2 · Clothes-processing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,619 B2 - Document ID: US12006619B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/267,073 - Filed: 2019-08-21 - Published: 2021-10-07 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-26 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Inseong Hwang; Jeongbeom Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006619B2 ## CPC - D06F 34/28: Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating programme parameters, e.g. the selected programme or its progress - D06F 34/34: characterised by mounting or attachment features, e.g. detachable control panels or detachable display panels - G10L 15/28: Constructional details of speech recognition systems - D06F 39/14: Doors or covers; Securing means therefor - D06F 2105/60: Audible signals - G10L 15/22: Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING ## Abstract The present invention relates to a clothes-processing device comprising: a cabinet comprising a body; a body front surface fixed to the body and forming the front surface, and an introduction opening formed through the body front surface; a drum comprising a drum body disposed in the cabinet so as to store clothes and a drum introduction opening formed through the drum body to communicate with the introduction opening; a driving part for rotating the drum; a door rotatably disposed at the cabinet so as to open or close the introduction opening; a control part for controlling the driving part; and a voice recognition part disposed at the door so as to recognize a voice generated by a user and transmit a control command corresponding to the recognized voice to the control part. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet including a body, a body front surface fixed to the body to form a front surface, and an inlet provided to pass through the body front surface; a drum including a drum body provided inside the cabinet to store laundry therein, and a drum inlet provided to pass through the drum body and communicated with the inlet; a driving unit rotating the drum; a door rotatably provided in the cabinet, the door comprising: a frame rotably fixed to the cabinet to open or close the inlet, a front panel fixed to the frame and located on the body front surface, and a through hole provided to pass through the front panel; a controller controlling the driving unit; and a voice recognition unit provided in the door to recognize a voice generated by a user and to transmit a control command corresponding to the recognized voice to the controller, wherein the voice recognition unit is located between the front panel and the frame to convert a sound wave entering the through hole into an electrical signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voice recognition unit includes a microphone located between the front panel and the frame to convert a sound wave entering the through hole into the electrical signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the through hole is provided in an area below a horizontal line passing through a center of the front panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the through hole includes first and second through holes respectively located at symmetrical points based on a vertical line passing through the center of the front panel, and the microphone unit includes a first microphone located in the first through hole and a second microphone located in the second through hole. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the frame includes a first frame to which the front panel is fixed, and a second frame fixed to the first frame, and the voice recognition unit is provided between the first frame and the front panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a PCB seating portion formed as a surface of the first frame is bent to be concave in a direction away from the front panel; a recognition unit PCB located in the PCB seating portion and configured to allow the first microphone and the second microphone to be fixed thereto; a first insertion hole provided to pass through the first frame and located in the PCB seating portion, the first insertion hole providing a space in which the first microphone is accommodated; and a second insertion hole provided to pass through the first frame and located in the PCB seating portion, the second insertion hole providing a space in which the second microphone is accommodated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an analyzer provided in a space formed between the first frame and the second frame, the analyzer converting an electrical signal provided from the first microphone and the second microphone into text or code and transmitting the converted text or code to the controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: an analyzer seating portion provided in any one of the first frame and the second frame, the analyzer seating portion forming a space in which the analyzer is accommodated; and a ventilating hole communicating the inside of the analyzer seating portion with the outside of the analyzer seating portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a connector through hole provided to pass through the first frame and located in the PCB seating portion; a connector provided in the recognition unit PCB and inserted into the connector through hole; a connection wire connecting the analyzer with the connector; and a first guide provided in the first frame, the first guide providing a space in which the connection wire is accommodated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a front surface through hole provided to pass through the body front surface; a housing fixed to the body front surface and located in the cabinet, the housing having an opened surface headed for the body front surface; a power PCB fixed into the housing and provided with a power circuit configured to connected to a power source; a switch provided to open or close the power circuit; a button having one end inserted into the front surface through hole and exposed to the outside of the body front surface and the other end connected to the switch; and a speaker fixed to the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the speaker generates a sound signal indicating the time when the microphone starts recording. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the speaker generates a sound signal indicating that voice recognition has been failed when the voice recognition unit fails to convert a sound wave into an electrical signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing includes: a base fixed to the body front surface; an accommodating portion provided in the base, the accommodating portion forming a space in which the power PCB is accommodated and maintaining an interval between the base and the body front surface; a speaker PCB fixed to the base and located outside the accommodating portion and configured to allow the speaker to be fixed thereto; and a communication unit provided to pass through the accommodating portion, the communication unit allowing the sound signal emitted from the speaker to enter the accommodating portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The laundry treating apparatus of claim 13, wherein the accommodating portion includes first and second surfaces fixed to the base forming both sides of the housing, third and fourth surfaces fixed to the base forming an upper surface and a lower surface of the housing, and an opened surface headed for the base, and the communication unit is provided in at least any one of the first surface, the second surface, the third surface and the fourth surface.