Method and Device for Detecting and Avoiding Resonance During Cycle of Washer

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2024-0054638, filed on Apr. 24, 2024, and 10-2024-0087114, filed on Jul. 2, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

The present disclosure relates to a method and device for detecting and avoiding resonance during a cycle of a washer.

A washer is a home appliance that washes, spins, or dries laundry using rotational force, and is one of the essential electrical appliances in modern life. When a cycle (e.g., a spin cycle) of the washer is performed, resonance is generated due to the rotational force.

The resonance generated during the cycle of the washer may include, e.g., resonance associated with the laundry (e.g., eccentricity or distribution of the laundry) or resonance associated with the floor (e.g., the state of the floor) where the washer is installed. The resonance associated with the floor may generate unnecessary vibration and noise, causing inconvenience to the user of the washer. Therefore, it is important to detect and avoid the resonance associated with the floor.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a washer, includes: a housing; a tub inside the housing; a drum inside the tub and configured to be rotated with respect to the tub; a driver inside the housing and configured to rotate the drum; one or more sensors including a first sensor; one or more processors; and a memory including one or more storage media storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the washer to: obtain driving configuration information based on a driving profile of the washer, the driving configuration information including information related to revolutions per minute (RPM) of the driver or the drum associated with a spin cycle of the washer; obtain RPM data and vibration data during a first spin cycle based on the driving configuration information, the RPM data including RPM values of the driver or the drum obtained during the first spin cycle, the vibration data, obtained via the first sensor, including values of a vibration of the washer during the first spin cycle; identify whether a resonance associated with a floor is generated via one or more artificial intelligence (AI) models based on the RPM data and the vibration data, the washer being on the floor; and adjust one or more values of the information related to RPM based on an RPM value associated with the resonance in a state in which generation of the resonance associated with the floor is identified. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the washer to perform a second spin cycle, after the first spin cycle, based on the adjusted information related to RPM.

The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the washer to: input first input data based on the RPM data and the vibration data to a first AI model and obtain information about a state of the floor as output data of the first AI model; and identify whether the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated, via an algorithm for filtering resonance associated with laundry received in the drum, based on washer data comprising the RPM data and the vibration data, and the information about the state of the floor. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the washer to set the information about the state of the floor to a first value indicating that the floor is a soft floor or a second value indicating that the floor is a hard floor.

The algorithm may include: a first algorithm configured to filter the resonance associated with the laundry using information about a pattern associated with the resonance by the laundry; a second algorithm configured to filter the resonance associated with the laundry using the vibration data and additional vibration data obtained, via a second sensor adjacent to the tub, during the first spin cycle; and a third algorithm configured to filter the resonance associated with the laundry using information about a frequency of resonance generation.

The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the washer to: input first input data based on the RPM data and the vibration data to a first AI model and obtain information about a state of the floor as output data of the first AI model; and input second input data based on the information about the state of the floor and washer data comprising the RPM data and the vibration data to a second AI model and obtain information indicating whether the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated as output data of the second AI model. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the washer to set the information indicating whether the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated to a first value indicating that the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated or a second value indicating that the resonance associated with the state of the floor is not generated.

The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the washer to input third input data based on washer data including the RPM data and the vibration data to a third AI model and obtain information indicating whether the resonance associated with a state of the floor is generated as output data of the third AI model.

The information related to RPM may include information indicating a setting value of a final spin RPM to be used in the first spin cycle. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the washer to: identify a basis spin RPM causing the resonance based on identifying generation of the resonance associated with a state of the floor; obtain a harmonic resonance RPM based on the basis spin RPM; and adjust the final spin RPM based on the harmonic resonance RPM.

The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the washer to obtain, during the first spin cycle, the RPM data and the vibration data at the same sampling period.

The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the washer to obtain weight data related to a weight of the laundry, via a third sensor, during the first spin cycle. The washer data may further include the weight data, the weight data being used to identify whether the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated.

The one or more AI models may be trained by a supervised learning scheme using training data including the vibration data obtained through the first sensor, the RPM data related to the RPM of the driver or the drum, the information related to a state of the floor, and label data.

The one or more AI models may be further trained based on a trigger signal received from a server. The trigger signal may be generated by the server based on complaint data related to the resonance.

The driving profile may correspond to an initial driving profile among a plurality of driving profiles and may be selected based on information related to an installation position of the washer. The plurality of driving profiles may be based on statistical analysis of a residential environment.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a server includes: a communication device; one or more processors; and a memory including one or more storage media storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server to: receive, from a washer through the communication device, RPM data and vibration data obtained during a first spin cycle based on driving configuration information, the driving configuration information being obtained based on a driving profile of the washer and including information related to revolutions per minute (RPM) of a driver or a drum associated with a spin cycle of the washer, the RPM data including RPM values of the driver or the drum obtained during the first spin cycle, and the vibration data including values related to a vibration of the washer obtained through a first sensor during the first spin cycle; identify whether a resonance associated with a state of a floor is generated via one or more artificial intelligence (AI) models based on the RPM data and the vibration data, the washer being on the floor; adjust one or more values of the RPM-related information based on an RPM value associated with the resonance in a state in which generation of the resonance associated with the floor is identified; and transmit the adjusted RPM-related information to the washer through the communication device. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server to cause the washer to perform a second spin cycle, after the first spin cycle, based on the adjusted information related to RPM.

The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the server to: input first input data based on the RPM data and the vibration data to a first AI model and obtain information about a state of the floor as output data of the first AI model; and identify whether the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated, via an algorithm for filtering resonance associated with laundry received in the drum, based on washer data comprising the RPM data and the vibration data, and the information about the state of the floor. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the server to set the information about the state of the floor to a first value indicating that the floor is a soft floor or a second value indicating that the floor is a hard floor.

The algorithm may include: a first algorithm configured to filter the resonance associated with the laundry using information about a pattern associated with the resonance by eccentricity of the laundry; a second algorithm configured to filter the resonance associated with the laundry using the vibration data and additional vibration data obtained, via a second sensor adjacent to a tub, during the first spin cycle; and a third algorithm configured to filter the resonance associated with the laundry using information about a frequency of resonance generation.

The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the server to: input first input data based on the RPM data and the vibration data to a first AI model and obtain information about a state of the floor as output data of the first AI model; and input second input data based on the information about the state of the floor and washer data including the RPM data and the vibration data to a second AI model and obtain information indicating whether the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated as output data of the second AI model. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the server to set the information indicating whether the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated to a first value indicating that the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated or a second value indicating that the resonance associated with the state of the floor is not generated.

The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the server to input third input data based on washer data including the RPM data and the vibration data to a third AI model and obtain information indicating whether the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated as output data of the third AI model.

The information related to RPM may include information indicating a setting value of a final spin RPM to be used in the first spin cycle. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may cause the server to: identify a basis spin RPM causing the resonance based on identifying generation of the resonance associated with the state of the floor; obtain a harmonic resonance RPM based on the basis spin RPM; and adjust the final spin RPM based on the harmonic resonance RPM.

The RPM data and the vibration data may be obtained at the same sampling period during the first spin cycle.

The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, may further cause the server to receive, from the washer through the communication device, weight data related to a weight of the laundry, via a third sensor, during the first spin cycle. The washer data may further include the weight data, the weight data may be used to identify whether the resonance associated with the state of the floor is generated.

The one or more AI models may be trained by a supervised learning scheme using training data including the vibration data obtained through the first sensor, the RPM data related to the RPM of the driver or the drum, the information related to a state of the floor, and label data. The one or more AI models may be further trained based on a trigger signal received from an external server. The trigger signal may be generated by the external server based on complaint data related to the resonance.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawings so that those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains may easily practice the disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that the embodiments described herein are example embodiments, and thus, the disclosure is not limited thereto and embodiments may include various modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives. The same or similar reference denotations may be used to refer to the same or similar elements throughout the specification and the drawings.

The washer according to various embodiments of the disclosure may be an example of a clothing treatment device. The washer according to various embodiments may include a top-loading washer in which an opening for inserting or withdrawing laundry faces upward, or a front-loading washer in which an opening for inserting or withdrawing laundry faces forward.

According to one or more embodiments, the top-loading washer may wash laundry using a water flow generated by a rotating body such as a pulsator. The top-loading washer may include a housing, a tub disposed (e.g., vertically) in the housing, a drum disposed in the tub to receive laundry and configured to be rotatable with respect to the tub, and/or a driver (e.g., a motor) for rotating the drum.

According to one or more embodiments, the front-loading washer may wash laundry by repeatedly raising and dropping the laundry by rotating the drum. The front-loading washer may include a housing, a tub disposed (e.g., horizontally) in the housing, a drum disposed in the tub to receive laundry and configured to be rotatable with respect to the tub, and/or a driver (e.g., a motor) for rotating the drum.

The washer according to various embodiments may include a washer having various loading and washing schemes in addition to the top-loading and front-loading washers described above. In the disclosure, for convenience of description, a front-loading washer is described as an example, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of a washer according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a washer according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

According to one or more embodiments, the washermay include a housingfor receiving various components therein. The housingmay have an overall hexahedral shape. The housingmay include an opening formed in one surface thereof. Two or more of the surfaces of the housingmay be integrally formed. Each surface of the housingmay be separately manufactured and assembled. The housingmay be, e.g., press-molded with an iron plate material or injection-molded with a resin material.

According to one or more embodiments, a doorfor opening and closing an opening may be provided in a portion corresponding to the opening of the housing. The doormay be rotatably coupled to a hinge fixed to one surface of the housing. For example, at least a portion of the doormay be provided to be transparent or translucent so as to be visible inside. The user may open and close the doorto put the laundry into the drumpositioned inside the housingor withdraw the laundry from the drum. For example, the doormay be locked by a locking device so as not to be opened while the washeris running. In an example, the doormay include a door frameand a glass member. The glass membermay be formed of, e.g., a transparent tempered glass material to see through the inside of the housing, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to one or more embodiments, the washermay include a tubfixedly disposed inside the housing. The tubmay have a substantially cylindrical shape with one side open. A tub openingmay be provided in the front surface of the tubat a position corresponding to the opening of the housing. The tubmay store washing water. A drain portfor draining washing water may be provided under the tub. The drain portmay be connected to, e.g., the drain device.

According to one or more embodiments, the washermay include a damper. The dampermay be provided to connect the housingand the tub. One side of the dampermay be fixed to the inner surface of the housingand the other side of the dampermay be fixed to the tub. The dampermay be provided to attenuate vibration by absorbing vibration energy transferred to the tuband/or the housingwhen the drumrotates.

According to one or more embodiments, the washermay include a drumprovided (or disposed) inside the tub. The drummay have a substantially cylindrical shape with one side open. In the front surface of the drum, a drum opening may be provided at a position corresponding to the opening of the housingand the tub openingof the tub. The drummay receive laundry. The drummay receive rotational power from a driverand rotate inside the tubwith respect to the tub. The drummay perform washing, rinsing, and/or spinning while rotating inside the tub.

According to one or more embodiments, the drummay include a lifterand/or a plurality of through holes. For example, the liftermay lift the laundry while the drumrotates so that the laundry repeatedly rises and falls, thereby evenly washing laundry on several surfaces thereof. The through holemay be, e.g., a passage formed so that the washing water received in the tubflows into the drumor the washing water inside the drumis discharged to the outside. In an example, the lifteror the through holemay be omitted.

According to one or more embodiments, the washermay include a control panelthat supports interaction between the user and the washer. In an example, the control panelmay be disposed at an upper end of the front surface of the housingas illustrated in, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In an example, the control panelmay include an input unitand a display unit.

According to one or more embodiments, the input unitmay include, e.g., any type of user input means for obtaining a user input for controlling the washer. The user may input power on/off, washing setting information (e.g., operation start/stop, course selection, time selection, etc.) of the washerthrough the input unit. For example, the input unitmay be a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, or a touch switch, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the input unitmay be in the form of a jog shuttle that the user may grip and rotate. In an example, the input unitmay include an infrared sensor. The user may remotely input the setting information through the remote control, and the input setting information may be received by the input unitas an infrared signal. In an example, the input unitmay include a microphone. Setting information by the user's voice may be obtained through a microphone.

According to one or more embodiments, The display unitmay display various washing setting information input from the user and/or operation state information about the washer. The display unitmay include various types of display panels such as an LCD, an LED, an OLED, a QLED, and a micro LED. For example, the display unitmay be implemented as a touch screen with a touch pad provided on the front surface thereof, but the disclosure is not limited to a specific type of display means. In an example, the display unitmay include any type of audio output means including a speaker, and may output each of the above-described information as an auditory signal through the audio output means. In an example, the display unitmay operate to audibly provide the user with information for guiding the user's input and/or information related to the ongoing process.

According to one or more embodiments, the washermay include a driverfor rotating the drum. The drivermay include a motorand a driving shaftfor transferring the driving force generated by the motorto the drum. The motormay include a fixed statorand a rotorthat rotates by electromagnetically interacting with the statorto convert an electric force into a mechanical rotational force. The rotational force generated by the motormay be transferred to the drumthrough the driving shaft. The driving shaftmay be press-fitted into the rotorof the motorto rotate together with the rotor. The driving shaftmay, e.g., partially penetrate the rear wall of the tubto connect the drumand the motor. The drivermay rotate the drumforward or backward to perform washing, rinsing, and/or spinning operations.

According to one or more embodiments, the washermay include a water supply devicefor supplying washing water to the drumand/or the tub. The water supply devicemay include at least one water supply pipeand at least one water supply valve. The at least one water supply pipemay be provided to supply washing water into the tubusing an external water supply source. One of the at least one water supply pipemay be connected to a detergent supply deviceprovided in the housing. Here, the detergent supply devicemay be divided into a plurality of spaces, and each space may be provided with a detergent, a rinsing agent, or the like. The washing water passing through the detergent supply devicemay be supplied to the tubtogether with the detergent (or rinsing agent) through the detergent supply pipe. Another one of the at least one water supply pipemay be directly connected to the tub. For example, the washing water supplied through the water supply pipedirectly connected to the tubmay be directly supplied to the tubwithout going through an intermediate component such as the detergent supply device.

According to one or more embodiments, the washermay include a drain devicefor draining the washing water received in the drumand/or the tub. The drain devicemay include a drain valve, a first drain pipe, a second drain pipe, or a pump chamber. The drain devicemay be disposed, e.g., under the tubto discharge the washing water discharged from the tubto the outside of the washer.

According to one or more embodiments, the drain valvemay be provided to open and close the drain port. When the drain valveis opened, the washing water received in the tubmay flow through the drain portto the drain device.

According to one or more embodiments, the first drain pipeand the second drain pipemay form a flow path that guides washing water to be discharged to the outside. For convenience of description, the upper stream of the pump chamberis referred to as the first drain pipeand the lower stream is referred to as the second drain pipe. The first drain pipeand the second drain pipemay be integrally formed. The first drain pipemay have, e.g., one end connected to the drain portand the other end connected to the pump chamber. The washing water may move into the pump chamberalong the first drain pipe. The second drain pipemay have, e.g., one end connected to the pump chamberand the other end connected to the outside of the washer. Accordingly, the washing water passing through the pump chambermay be discharged to the outside of the washeralong the second drain pipe.

According to one or more embodiments, the pump chambermay be provided under the tubto store washing water drained from the tub. Inside the pump chamber, e.g., a drain pumpfor discharging the stored washing water to the outside may be provided. The washing water pumped by the drain pumpmay be guided to the outside of the housingthrough the second drain pipe.

is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a washer according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

According to one or more embodiments, the washermay include an input/output device(e.g., the input unitof). The input/output devicemay include any type of user input means for obtaining setting information from the user for controlling the operation of the washer. Various user inputs obtained through the input/output devicemay be transferred to the processorto be described below. In an example, various user inputs obtained through the input/output devicemay be transmitted to the outside through the communication deviceto be described below, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to one or more embodiments, the washermay include a communication devicethat supports signal transmission/reception to/from the outside. In an example, the communication devicemay include a communication circuit and may receive and/or transmit a wired/wireless signal to/from an external wired/wireless communication system, an external server, and/or other devices according to a predetermined wired/wireless communication protocol. In an example, the communication devicemay include one or more modules to connect the washerto one or more networks. In an example, the communication devicemay include at least one of a mobile communication module, a wired/wireless Internet module, a short-range communication module, and/or a location information module.

According to one or more embodiments, the mobile communication module may transmit/receive wireless signals with at least one of an external base station, an external UE, and an external server through the mobile communication network according to any communication protocol among various communication protocols for mobile communication. The wireless signals may include various types of data signals. In an example, the wireless signals may include voice call signals, video call signals, and text/multimedia message signals, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to one or more embodiments, the wired/wireless Internet module may support wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi direct, digital living network alliance (DLNA), wireless broadband (WiBro), world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), long term evolution (LTE), or long term evolution-advanced (LTE-A), but is not limited thereto. In an example, the wired/wireless Internet module of the communication devicemay transmit/receive data according to at least one wired/wireless Internet technology among Internet technologies not listed above.