WASHING MACHINE

• US 20120036900A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Hong, Sang Wook, Kim, Ji Hee, Lee, Sang Su, Park, Sun Young, Chang, Jae Won, Kang, Ki Young, Park, Chang Kwon, Koo, Bon Kwon
• Application Number:
  US13/260,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20120036900A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/139
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/12 Washing temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/14 Time settings
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/14 Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Abstract

A washing machine is disclosed which washes laundry using a mechanical force. The washing machine includes a display unit (60) formed at a door (40) to display information on washing, accordingly expanding the installation space for the display unit (60). In addition, when the display unit comprises a touch screen, not only input and display of the washing information but also visual inspection of laundry in a drum can be achieved by the display unit.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet forming an exterior appearance of the washing machine and including an opening;

a drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet and supplied with laundry through the opening;

a door mounted at the cabinet to open and close the opening; and

a display unit provided at the door to display washing information.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is disposed at a position corresponding to the opening.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the display unit comprises a transparent display panel which transmits light from inside of the drum.

4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the display unit further comprises an input unit to select the washing information being displayed on the transparent display panel.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the input unit comprises a touch panel formed on a surface of the transparent display panel.

6. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the door comprises a door frame shaped corresponding to the opening, and the input unit is formed along an outer circumference of the door frame.

7. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the input unit is a button-type input unit comprising operation buttons.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7, further comprising:

a light emitting unit disposed under the buttons to emit light.

9. The washing machine according to claim 2, further comprising:

a light transmission unit which transmits light from inside of the drum, wherein the opening is partitioned by the light transmission unit and the display unit.

10. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the display unit is a touch screen comprising a transparent display panel transmitting the light from inside of the drum, and a touch panel disposed on an upper surface of the transparent display panel.

11. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the door comprises a door frame shaped corresponding to a front outer circumference of the cabinet, and a door glass fixed to an upper surface of the door frame, thereby forming a front exterior appearance of the cabinet, and the display unit is provided to the door glass.

12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the door glass includes a penetration part into which the display unit is inserted, and the display unit is supported by the door frame and exposed out of the door glass through the penetration part.

13. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the display unit is disposed at a position corresponding to the opening.

14. The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the display unit is a transparent display panel which transmits light from inside of the drum.

15. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the display unit further comprises an input unit to select the washing information being displayed on the transparent display panel.

16. The washing machine according to claim 15, wherein the input unit comprises a touch panel formed on a surface of the transparent display panel.

17. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the display unit supplies respectively different user interfaces to different users based on user information input in advance.

18. The washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the user information includes at least one of a user'"'"'s age, gender, living environment, and family members.

19. The washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the display unit displays letters or icons of the user interface in different sizes according to the user'"'"'s age input as the user information.