Home appliance with radio reception function

• US 20070123177A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• 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:
  US11/477,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123177A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.100
• 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

A home appliance with a radio reception function is disclosed. The home appliance includes a washing device for washing or drying clothes, and a radio module for providing the radio reception function and outputting a current washing or drying progress state of the washing device in audio form through data communication with the washing device.

Claims

1. A home appliance with a radio reception function comprising:

a washing device for washing or drying clothes; and

a radio module for providing the radio reception function and outputting a current washing or drying progress state of the washing device in audio form through data communication with the washing device.

2. The home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a monitor device for remotely controlling and monitoring an operation of the washing device through communication with the washing device.

3. The home appliance according to claim 2, wherein the radio module is included in the monitor device.

4. A home appliance with a radio reception function comprising:

a washing device for washing or drying clothes; and

a radio module installed in the washing device, the radio module providing the radio reception function and outputting a current washing or drying progress state of the washing device in audio form through communication with the washing device.

5. The home appliance according to claim 4, further comprising a remote controller for inputting control commands from a user to the washing device and radio module.

6. The home appliance according to claim 5, wherein the remote controller comprises a key panel for control of the washing device, and a key panel for control of the radio module, whereby the remote controller is used in common for the washing device and radio module.

7. The home appliance according to claim 4, wherein each of the washing device and radio module comprises an infrared receiver for receiving a key code transmitted from a remote controller.

8. The home appliance according to claim 4, wherein the washing device and the radio module are interconnected via a serial communication line so that they can perform data communication therebetween.

9. The home appliance according to claim 4, wherein the washing device comprises:

a key input unit for inputting washing or drying mode conditions from a user;

a load driver for driving loads necessary for a washing or drying mode;

a display unit for displaying current mode conditions in progress and the current washing or drying progress state; and

a controller for controlling the mode according to the mode conditions inputted from the user and outputting the current washing or drying progress state to the radio module.

10. The home appliance according to claim 9, wherein the washing device further comprises an Internet-connectable communication unit.

11. The home appliance according to claim 4, wherein the radio module comprises:

a key input unit for inputting a power, volume and frequency of the radio module from a user;

a display unit for displaying the volume and frequency inputted through the key input unit;

a radio frequency (RF) receiver for receiving an RF signal corresponding to the frequency inputted through the key input unit;

a radio controller for processing the RF signal received by the RF receiver or the current washing or drying progress state inputted from the washing device to convert it into an audio signal that can be outputted; and

an audio output unit for outputting the audio signal from the radio controller.

12. The home appliance according to claim 11, wherein the key input unit, display unit and audio output unit are disposed on an outer surface of the washing device, and the RF receiver and radio controller are disposed inside the washing device.

13. A home appliance with a radio reception function comprising:

a washing device for washing or drying clothes; and

a monitor device for remotely controlling and monitoring an operation of the washing device through power line communication with the washing device, the monitor device having the radio reception function to receive a desired RF signal in response to a request from a user.

14. 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 the power line communication with the washing device;

an RF receiver for receiving the RF signal;

an audio output unit for outputting the state information of the washing device received through the communication unit and the RF signal received by the RF receiver in the form of audio signals; and

a monitor controller for performing the power line communication with the washing device or the radio reception function in response to a control command from the user to output the state information of the washing device or the RF signal through the audio output unit.

15. The home appliance according to claim 14, wherein the communication unit is a communication module which performs the power line communication.

16. The home appliance according to claim 14, further comprising a display unit for displaying the state information of the washing device received through the communication unit and a current radio volume/frequency.

17. The home appliance according to claim 16, wherein the display unit comprises a liquid crystal display.

18. The home appliance according to claim 14, further comprising a key input unit including a key panel for control of the washing device, and a key panel for control of the radio reception function.

19. The home appliance according to claim 14, further comprising a remote controller including a key panel for control of the washing device, and a key panel for control of the radio reception function.