Home appliance and home appliance system

• US 8,253,582 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cho, In Haeng, Lee, Phal Jin, Jeong, Hoi Jin, Han, Jong Hye
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/568,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20100259403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 340/679, 340/692, 340/539.26, 379/102.01, 379/106.01, 68/122.3
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles

Abstract

A home appliance and home appliance system are provided. The home appliance may include an input device, through which an input signal is received from a user, and a control panel, into which the input device is inserted and connected, including a sound through-hole through which sound information passes. The home appliance may further include a sound output device disposed on a rear surface of the control panel that outputs the sound information corresponding to product information of the home appliance through the sound through-hole to outside of the home appliance. A gap may be formed between the input device and the sound through-hole into which the input device is inserted. Therefore, the sound information output from the sound output device may be transmitted to the outside through the gap. The home appliance may further include a sound guide, such that the sound information transmitted from the sound output device may be efficiently transmitted to the sound through-hole.

Claims

1. A laundry treatment machine, comprising:

an input device configured to receive an input signal from a user;

a control panel, into which the input device is inserted and connected, the control panel including a sound through-hole;

a sound output device disposed at a rear surface of the control panel, that outputs sound information corresponding to product information of the laundry treatment machine through the sound through-hole to outside of the laundry treatment machine; and

a sound guide formed on the rear surface of the control panel that guides the sound information output from the sound output device to the sound through-hole.

2. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the sound output device is spaced a predetermined distance from the rear surface of the control panel.

3. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the sound output device is spaced within approximately 3 mm of the rear surface of the control panel.

4. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the sound output device comprises a buzzer that outputs a sound to the outside.

5. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the sound output device is spaced a predetermined distance from one side of the sound through-hole.

6. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the input device is inserted and connected into the sound through-hole.

7. The laundry treatment machine of claim 6, wherein a center of the input device and a center of the sound through-hole are located at different positions.

8. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the sound guide comprises a sound path formed on the rear surface of the control panel.

9. The laundry treatment machine of claim 8, wherein the sound path is recessed into the rear surface of the control panel.

10. The laundry treatment machine of claim 8, wherein the input device includes a portion, through which the sound information guided into the sound path is transmitted to the outside, formed at one side of the input device.

11. The laundry treatment machine of claim 10, wherein the portion is recessed into the input device, such that the sound information is transmitted to the outside therethrough.

12. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the sound guide comprises at least one sound guide rib formed on the rear surface of the control panel, that guides the sound information from the sound output device to the sound through-hole.

13. The laundry treatment machine of claim 12, wherein the at least one sound guide rib comprises a first sound guide rib positioned on the rear surface of the control panel.

14. The laundry treatment machine of claim 13, wherein the first sound guide rib extends from a first position approximately adjacent a top edge of the sound output device to a second position spaced apart from the sound through-hole.

15. The laundry treatment machine of claim 14, wherein a distance from the second position to the sound through-hole is approximately 10 mm.

16. The laundry treatment machine of claim 13, wherein the at least one guide rib further comprises a second sound guide rib, wherein the second sound guide rib is arranged spaced a predetermined distance from the first sound guide rib.

17. The laundry treatment machine of claim 16, wherein the first and second sound guide ribs extend from a first position approximately adjacent a top edge of the sound output device to a second position spaced apart from the sound through-hole.

18. The laundry treatment machine of claim 17, wherein a distance from the second position to the sound-through hole is approximately 10 mm.

19. The laundry treatment machine of claim 12, further comprising a waterproof rib that prevents water flowing from outside of the control panel from infiltrating into the rear surface of the control panel through the sound through-hole.

20. The laundry treatment machine of claim 19, wherein one side of the waterproof rib is open, such that the sound information is transmitted to the outside.

21. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the sound guide comprises a sound guide housing configured to receive the sound output device.

22. The laundry treatmant machine of claim 21, wherein at least one side of the sound output device is inserted into the sound guide housing.

23. The laundry treatment machine of claim 21, wherein a predetermined angle is formed between one side of the sound guide housing and the other side thereof.

24. The laundry treatment machine of claim 21, wherein the sound guide housing includes a first opening disposed adjacent the sound output device and a second opening disposed adjacent the sound through-hole.

25. The laundry treatment machine, comprising:

an input device configured to receive an input signal from a user;

a control panel including a sound through-hole, into which the input device is inserted; and

a sound output device disposed at a rear surface of the control panel, that outputs sound information corresponding to product information of the laundry treatment machine, wherein the input device is spaced apart from an edge of the sound through-hole to form a gap, such that the sound information is transmitted through the gap to outside of the laundry treatment machine.

26. The laundry treatment machine of claim 25, wherein the sound output device is spaced a predetermined distance from the rear surface of the control panel.

27. The laundry treatment machine of claim 26, wherein the sound output device is spaced within approximately 3 mm of the rear surface of the control panel.

28. The laundry treatment machine of claim 25, wherein the input device is eccentrically inserted into the sound through-hole, such that the input device is closer to one side of the sound through-hole.

29. The laundry treatment machine of claim 25, further comprising:

a sound guide that guides the sound information output from the sound output device to the gap.

30. The laundry treatment machine of claim 29, wherein the sound guide comprises:

a first sound guide rib positioned on the rear surface of the control panel; and

a second sound guide rib spaced a predetermined distance from the first sound guide rib, such that the sound information is transmitted along a sound path defined between the first and second sound guide rib.

31. The laundry treatment machine of claim 29, wherein the sound guide comprises:

a first opening disposed adjacent the sound output device, the sound information being introduced through the first opening;

a second opening facing the sound through-hole, through which the sound information being introduced through the first opening is output; and

an element forming an inner space of the sound guide, alone which the sound information flows from the first opening to the second opening.