WASHING APPARATUS

• US 20170321367A1
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Jayoen, KIM, Youngwoo, OH, Joohyeon, KIM, Darae
• Granted Patent: US 10,920,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/30 characterised by mechanical features, e.g. buttons or rotary dials
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/02 Details

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing apparatus and to a washing apparatus having a convenient user interface. More specifically, the present invention relates to a washing apparatus that provides a user interface that is concentrated, simple and intuitive. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a washing apparatus may be provided that is characterized by comprising: an annular rotary knob provided for course selection; a display for selectively displaying a course screen showing information on a course selected from within the radial directions of the rotary knob, and an options screen for changing options for at least one wash water temperature; washing intensity, number of rinses, and spin-dry intensity within the course; a switching input part provided within the radial directions of the rotary knob in order to switch between the course screen and the options screen through a selection by a user; and a single variable input part provided to change the options when in the options screen and to make inputs unrelated to the options when in the course screen.

Claims

1. A washing apparatus providing a plurality of wash courses;

and provided to change one or more options of a specific wash course on assumption that the specific wash course is selected from the wash courses, the washing apparatus comprising;

a knob assembly comprising a annular rotary knob and provided for a user to select the specific wash course;

a display region comprising a display for selectively displaying a course screen for the specific wash course selected through the rotary knob and an option screen for changing the option;

a single variable input unit additionally selected by the user, independent from the rotary knob, and having several input information sources and displaying the several input information sources;

a conversion input unit provided to be selected by the user, independent from the rotary knob and converting the input information displayed on the single variable input unit; and

a control unit receiving input of the conversion input unit and controlling the single variable input unit to convert the displayed input information.

2. The washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the information displayed on the single variable input unit is input, when the single variable input unit is selected.

3. The washing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the single variable input unit comprises,

a plurality of light transmission unit corresponding to the plurality of the input information;

a plurality of light sources corresponding to the plurality of the light transmission units, respectively;

a single touch portion; and

a single switch corresponding to the single touch portion.

4. The washing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit selectively controls brightness of the light sources for the user to recognize specific data of the input information displayed on the single variable input unit.

5. The washing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the bright of the light sources to be at least two levels including the maximum and the minimum or at least three levels including the maximum, the middle and the minimum.

6. The washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of single variable input units are distinguished from each other in an inner portion with respect to a radial direction of the rotary knob.

7. The washing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of the input information sources of the single variable input unit include a course option for selecting wash water temperature, washing intensity, number of rinses and spin-dry intensity variably set in the specific wash course and input information irrelative to the course option.

8. The washing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the input information irrelative to the course option comprises reservation setting, communication setting, menu setting and pause/stop.

9. The washing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least four single variable input units are provided to correspond to the four course options, respectively.

10. The washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion input unit comprises a switch operable by the user'"'"'s press or touch of the display.

12. The washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the option comprises one or more of the wash water temperature, number of rinses, washing intensity and spin-dry intensity as a basic option in the specific wash course.

13. The washing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the single variable input unit is provided as an option select unit for selecting the basic option.

14. The washing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the basic option input information is converted into the information irrelevant to the basic option input information by the input to the conversion input unit.

15. The washing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the input information irrelevant to the basic option input information comprises at least one of start/pause and reservation for delaying the end time point of the specific wash course.

16. The washing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the option select unit is provided to select the wash water temperature, the number of rinses, the washing intensity and the spin-dry intensity.

17. The washing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the display is located in an inner portion with respect to a radial direction of the rotary knob.

18. The washing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the option select unit may be provided in the inner portion with respect to the radial direction of the rotary knob and an outer portion with respect to a radial direction of the display at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'"'"'clock.

11. A washing apparatus comprising:

an annular knob provided for the user to select a specific one from a plurality of wash course;

a display provided to selectively display a course screen for the specific wash course selected through the rotary knob and an option screen for changing options for the specific wash course;

a single variable input unit selected by the user, independent from the rotary knob, and selectively displaying a plurality of input information sources; and

a conversion input unit provided for the user to select, independent from the rotary knob, and convert the input information displayed on the single variable input units.

19. A washing apparatus comprising:

an annular rotary knob provided to select a wash course;

a display provided in an inner portion with respect to a radial direction of the rotary knob and selectively displaying a course screen for displaying information about a selected course and an option screen for changing options for at least one of wash water temperature, washing intensity, number of rinses and spin-dry intensity in the course;

a conversion input unit provided for conversion between the course screen and the option screen by the user'"'"'s selection and in an inner portion with respect to the radial direction of the rotary knob; and

a single variable input unit provided to change the option on the option screen and make irrelevant input to the option on the course screen.

20. The washing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of the single variable input units are provided, and

the input information displayed by one single variable input unit is different on the course screen from the option screen.