US 2021/0277587 A1 · LAUNDRY DRYER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

Abstract

A laundry dryer performs a method for drying laundry with steam or hot air and notifying a user of water shortage. The laundry dryer includes a cabinet, a drum, a steam unit, a storage tank, a supply pump, and a steam controller. The steam controller operates the steam unit upon receiving a steam supply command to supply steam to the drum. When a water level of water stored in at least one of the steam unit or the storage tank is equal to or less than a predetermined water level, the steam controller provides a water shortage notification message for user recognition. The laundry dryer provides the water shortage notification message when a minimum amount of residual water is stored in the storage tank. The number of times to refill the storage tank can be minimized, resulting in an increase in user convenience.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A laundry dryer comprising:

a cabinet;
a drum disposed in the cabinet and configured to receive hot air or steam or both;
a steam unit disposed in the cabinet and configured to generate the steam;
a storage tank disposed in the cabinet and configured to store water;
a supply pump disposed between the steam unit and the storage tank, the supply pump being configured to supply the water stored in the storage tank to the steam unit;
and
a steam controller configured to:
operate the steam unit based on receiving a steam supply command for supplying the steam to the drum,
determine a water level of water the steam unit or the storage tank, and
based on the water level of water in the steam unit or the storage tank being less than or equal to a predetermined water level, output a water shortage notification.

7 more elements

A method for controlling a laundry dryer including a drum configured to receive laundry therein, a steam unit configured to generate steam, a storage tank configured to store water, and a supply pump configured to supply the water stored in the storage tank to the steam unit, the method comprising:

performing a drying process, the drying process comprising supplying at least one of hot air or steam to the drum;
supplying the steam to the drum;
based on completion of supply of steam to the drum, supplying water stored in the storage tank to the steam unit by operating the supply pump;
after completion of supply of water to the steam unit, determining a water level of water in the steam unit or in the storage tank;
based on the water level of water in the steam unit or the storage tank being less than or equal to a predetermined water level, determining a water shortage state;
and
outputting a water shortage notification that indicates the water shortage state.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Laundry dryer and method for controlling the same

Life of this patent

Laundry dryer and method for controlling the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20