Laundry treatment device and method for controlling same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment device and a method for controlling the same, the laundry treatment device comprising: a first washing unit having a first tub; and a second washing unit that has a second tub and which operates independently of the first washing unit, wherein: the first washing unit comprises a heater for drying the laundry inside the first tub, a switch for tuning on/off the operation of the heater, a heater driving unit for controlling operating power supplied to the heater, and a control unit for controlling the switch such that the heater operates or stops operating, the control unit applying a control signal to the heater driving unit; when the first washing unit and the second washing unit operate simultaneously, the control unit applies a control signal following the simultaneous operation to the heater driving unit; and the heater driving unit controls operating power supplied to the heater such that power consumed by the heater decreases, in response to the control signal. The laundry treatment device, which has a plurality of washing units that perform washing independently of each other, is advantageous in that, when the plurality of washing units simultaneously conduct washing, the operation of the heater is controlled such that the amount of consumed power is adjusted, simultaneous washing can be conducted without stopping one of the plurality of washing units, the life of provided components can be increased, and any abrupt increase in the amount of consumed power can be prevented.

1 . A laundry treatment device comprising:
 a first washing unit having a first tub; and   a second washing unit that has a second tub and which operates independently of the first washing unit,   wherein the first washing unit comprises:   a heater for drying a laundry inside the first tub,   a switch for turning on/off an operation of the heater,   a heater driving unit for controlling operating power supplied to the heater, and   a control unit for controlling the switch such that the heater operates or stops operating, the control unit applying a control signal to the heater driving unit;   when the first washing unit and the second washing unit operate simultaneously, the control unit applies a control signal according to the simultaneous operation to the heater driving unit; and   the heater driving unit controls operating power supplied to the heater such that power consumed by the heater decreases, in response to the control signal.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater driving unit performs a switching control of the operating power supplied to the heater, in response to the control signal. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater driving unit controls the operating power supplied to the heater through a PWM control, in response to the control signal. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater driving unit controls a duty for the operating power supplied to the heater, in response to the control signal. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater driving unit controls the operating power supplied to the heater so that power consumption of the heater is reduced by half. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater driving unit is connected between the switch and the heater,
 wherein the heater driving unit and the heater stop operation when the switch is turned off.   
     
     
         7 . The laundry treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines whether the first washing unit and the second washing unit operate simultaneously, in correspondence with intensity of measured vibration, water supply time, and power consumption amount. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein the second washing unit comprises:
 a second heater for drying a laundry inside the second tub;   a second heater driving unit for controlling operating power of the second heater; and   a second controller for controlling the second washing unit,   wherein, when the first washing unit and the second washing unit operate simultaneously, the second controller applies a control signal according to the simultaneous operation to the second heater driving unit,   wherein the second heater driving unit performs a switching control of an operating power supplied to the second heater, in response to the control signal.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry treatment device of  claim 8 , wherein the control unit applies the control signal to the heater driving unit to reduce power consumption of the heater when the heater and the second heater operate simultaneously,
 wherein the heater driving unit performs a switching control of the operating power supplied to the heater.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry treatment device of  claim 8 , wherein the control unit transmits data requesting reduction of power consumption to the second control unit when the heater and the second heater operate simultaneously,
 wherein the second control unit applies the control signal to the second heater driving unit in response to the data,   wherein the second heater driving unit performs a switching control of the operating power supplied to the second heater.   
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling a laundry treatment device comprising a first washing unit having a first tub, and a second washing unit that has a second tub and which is disposed below the first washing unit and operates independently of the first washing unit, the method comprising:
 performing a specified operation by the first washing unit and the second washing unit, respectively;   operating a heater of the first washing unit, when heating wash water or performing drying;   applying a control signal according to simultaneous operation; and   performing a switching control of operating power supplied to the heater so that power consumption of the heater decreases in response to the control signal.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 during operation of the first washing unit,   operating a second heater of the second washing unit; and   performing a switching control of the second heater so that power consumption of the second heater decreases.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 during operation of the heater,   operating a second heater of the second washing unit; and   performing a switching control of one of the heater and the second heater.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 during operation of the heater,   operating a second heater of the second washing unit; and   performing a switching control of both the heater and the second heater.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , after applying the control signal, further comprising adding an operating time for one of a case where a temperature of wash water does not reach a target temperature and a case where drying is not completed within a set time.