Washer

• US 7,421,863 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Moon, Gyeong Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US11/033,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 68/120.3, 68/121.2
• US Class Current: 68/12.03
• 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 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• 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: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23017 Page, scroll key
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23072 Telephone, dial as control panel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2633 Washing, laundry

Abstract

A washer enhances user convenience by scrolling on a display unit information indicative of the washer'"'"'s operational state, according to a setup input via button and dial units. The washer includes an input unit for receiving setup items for the washing cycle such as a water supply quantity, a washing course, and the like from a user; a display for displaying a large quantity of information indicating an operational state of a body by scrolling; and a microcomputer for controlling an operation according to a value transferred from the input unit and implementing information according to a control result to be displayed via the display by scrolling.

Claims

1. A washer comprising:

an input unit for receiving setup items for a washing cycle including at least one of a water supply, quality and a washing course from a user;

a display for displaying a large quantity of information indicating an operational state of a body by scrolling in a plurality of directions;

a microcomputer for controlling an operation according to a value transferred from the input unit and implementing information according to a control result to be displayed via the display by scrolling;

means for providing a scroll setup state; and

a dial unit for setting up the washing cycle and for setting a scroll direction by a rotational operation of a dial when a scroll setup state is provided.

2. A washer comprising:

an input unit for receiving setup items for a washing cycle including at least one of a water supply quantity and a washing course from a user;

a display for displaying a large quantity of information indicating an operational state of a body by scrolling;

a microcomputer for controlling an operation according to a value transferred from the input unit and implementing information according to a control result to be displayed via the display by scrolling;

a button unit providing a scroll setup state by pressing at least two random buttons for several seconds simultaneously; and

a dial unit setting a scroll direction by a rotational operation of a dial if the scroll setup state is provided by the button unit.

3. The washer of claim 2, wherein the dial unit changes the scroll direction into a left, right, upward, or downward direction according to each rotational operation of the dial, and

wherein the dial unit makes the setup of the scroll direction appear repeatedly in case of a continuous rotational operation of the dial.

4. The washer of claim 2, wherein the button unit further comprises a power button for storing scroll data set by the dial unit in case of the scroll setup state.

5. A washer comprising:

an input unit for receiving setup items for the washing cycle including at least one of a water supply quantity and a washing course from a user;

a display for displaying a large quantity of information indicating an operational state of a body by scrolling;

a microcomputer for controlling an operation according to a value transferred from the input unit and implementing information according to a control result to be displayed via the display by scrolling;

an input processor for processing contents inputted from a button unit and a dial unit; and

a display controller for scrolling information on the display according to a value set by the input processor.

6. A washer comprising:

an input unit for receiving setup items for the washing cycle including at least one of a water supply quantity and a washing course from a user;

a display for displaying information indicating an operational state of a body by scrolling;

a microcomputer for controlling an operation according to a value transferred from the input unit and implementing information according to a control result to be displayed via the display by scrolling;

a button unit providing a scroll setup state by pressing at least two random buttons for several seconds simultaneously; and

means for setting a scroll direction by a rotational operation of a dial if the scroll setup state is provided by the button unit.