Home appliance with MP3 player

• US 20070118862A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Hyeok, Jeong, Seong, Ahn, Byung, Cho, Hung
• Application Number:
  US11/477,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20070118862A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/00 Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a home appliance with an MP3 player which is capable of playing back digital contents of the MP3 player. The home appliance includes the MP3 player adapted for storing contents, and a washing device for washing or drying clothes. The washing device is connectable with the MP3 player, and has a communication function with the MP3 player to play back the contents stored in the MP3 player.

Claims

1. A home appliance with an MP3 player comprising:

the MP3 player adapted for storing contents; and

a washing device for washing or drying clothes, the washing device being connectable with the MP3 player and having a communication function with the MP3 player to play back the contents stored in the MP3 player.

2. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the washing device and the MP3 player perform data communication therebetween on the basis of a serial communication protocol, the serial communication protocol being a universal serial bus (USB) protocol.

3. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the washing-device comprises:

an input/output terminal for physically connecting the washing device with the MP3 player for data communication with the MP3 player;

a connector for physically connecting the washing device with the MP3 player to receive an audio signal outputted from the MP3 player;

a key input unit for inputting washing or drying mode conditions and a control command for the MP3 player from a user;

a display unit for displaying information regarding an operation of a washing or drying mode and information regarding an operation of the MP3 player;

an audio output unit for outputting a mode state in the form of an audio signal and the audio signal from the MP3 player received through the connector; and

a controller for, in response to a control of the user through the key input unit, controlling the operation of the washing or drying mode, and controlling the operation of the MP3 player by performing the data communication with the MP3 player through the input/output terminal.

4. The home appliance according to claim 3, wherein the washing device further comprises a power supply for supplying a desired voltage to the MP3 player through the input/output terminal.

5. The home appliance according to claim 3, wherein the washing device further comprises an Internet-connectable communication unit.

6. The home appliance according to claim 3, wherein the key input unit comprises a key panel for control of the washing device, and a key panel for control of the MP3 player.

7. The home appliance according to claim 3, wherein the controller provides a graphic user interface (GUI) for control of the MP3 player through the display unit.

8. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the MP3 player comprises:

a first connector for physically connecting the MP3 player to the washing device to receive a control signal transmitted from the washing device and a voltage supplied therefrom;

a second connector for physically connecting the MP3 player to the washing device to output an audio signal to the washing device;

a power input unit for receiving the voltage supplied through the first connector and supplying desired voltages to respective components of the MP3 player;

a memory for storing various digital contents; and

an MP3 controller for outputting the digital contents stored in the memory to the washing device through the first or second connector in response to a control signal inputted from the washing device through data communication with the washing device.

9. The home appliance according to claim 8, wherein the MP3 controller comprises a decoder for converting a format of an audio signal among the digital contents stored in the memory into a predefined format.

10. The home appliance according to claim 8, wherein the MP3 player further comprises an amplifier for amplifying an audio signal among the digital contents stored in the memory to a predetermined level and outputting the amplified audio signal to the second connector.

11. The home appliance according to claim 8, wherein the MP3 player further comprises an audio cable for connecting the second connector to the washing device to output the audio signal to the washing device through the second connector.

12. The home appliance according to claim 8, wherein the MP3 player further comprises a voice recorder for receiving an external input voice signal and transferring it to the memory.

13. A home appliance with an MP3 player comprising:

the MP3 player adapted for storing contents;

a washing device for washing or drying clothes; and

a monitor device for remotely controlling an entire operation of the washing device or monitoring a washing or drying state of the washing device through communication with the washing device, the monitor device having a data communication function with the MP3 player to play back the contents stored in the MP3 player.

14. The home appliance according to claim 13, wherein the monitor device and the MP3 player perform data communication therebetween on the basis of a serial communication protocol, the serial communication protocol being a USB protocol.

15. The home appliance according to claim 13, wherein the monitor device comprises:

a communication unit for transmitting a control command to the washing device or receiving state information of the washing device therefrom through power line communication with the washing device;

an input/output terminal for physically connecting the monitor device with the MP3 player for data communication with the MP3 player;

a key input unit for inputting a control command for the washing device or MP3 player from a user;

a display unit for displaying the state information of the washing device and information regarding an operation of the MP3 player;

an audio output unit for outputting the state information of the washing device and an audio content inputted from the MP3 player; and

a monitor controller for controlling the operation of the washing device or MP3 player in response to the control command from the user by performing the power line communication with the washing device or the data communication with the MP3 player.

16. The home appliance according to claim 15, wherein the communication unit is a communication module using the power line communication.

17. The home appliance according to claim 15, wherein the input/output terminal is a USB port which physically connects the monitor device with the MP3 player.

18. The home appliance according to claim 15, wherein the key input unit comprises a key panel for control of the monitor device, and a key panel for control of the MP3 player.

19. The home appliance according to claim 15, wherein the monitor controller provides a GUI for control of the MP3 player through the display unit.

20. The home appliance according to claim 13, wherein the MP3 player comprises:

a connector for physically connecting the MP3 player to the monitor device for data communication with the monitor device;

a memory for storing various digital contents; and

an MP3 controller for outputting the digital contents stored in the memory to the monitor device in response to a control signal inputted from the monitor device through the data communication with the monitor device.

21. The home appliance according to claim 20, wherein the MP3 controller comprises a decoder for converting a format of an audio signal among the digital contents stored in the memory into a predefined format.

22. The home appliance according to claim 20, wherein the MP3 player further comprises an amplifier for amplifying an audio signal among the digital contents stored in the memory to a predetermined level and outputting the amplified audio signal to the connector.

23. The home appliance according to claim 20, wherein the MP3 player further comprises a voice recorder for receiving an external input voice signal and transferring it to the memory.