Laundry treating apparatus and control method thereof

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus may include a main body, a door, a driver, a water supplier, a drain port, a sensor, and a controller. The sensor includes a dust sensor for measuring a dust concentration inside a washing tub, a gas sensor for measuring gas components inside the washing tub, a turbidity sensor for detecting a water quality of the washing water contained in the washing tub, a conductivity sensor, and a spectroscopic sensor. The controller controls the driver, the water supplier, the drain port, and the sensor, and calculates an expected washing time based on data measured through the sensor and the driver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:
 a body to have a washing tub therein;   a door to couple to the body, and the door is configured to open or close an inlet of the washing tub;   a driver in the body, and the driver is configured to move the washing tub;   a sensor device that includes at least one of a dust sensor configured to measure a dust concentration in the washing tub, a gas sensor configured to measure gas concentration in the washing tub, a turbidity sensor configured to detect a turbidity of washing water in the washing tub, a conductivity sensor to measure conductivity of washing water, or a spectroscopic sensor to detect a composition in washing water; and   a controller configured to control the driver and the sensor, and to determine an expected washing time based on data from the sensor or the driver.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a storage configured to store first comparison data to which a predetermined expected washing time is assigned according to the dust concentration and the gas concentration in the washing tub, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the expected washing time based on data in the storage. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the storage is configured to store second comparison data to which a predetermined expected washing time is assigned according to the water quality of the washing water in the washing tub, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the expected washing time based on data in the storage. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a measurement cycle of the dust sensor, the gas sensor, the spectroscopic sensor, the conductivity sensor, and the turbidity sensor is adjusted based on a user's selection. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dust sensor and the gas sensor are disposed at a vent communicating with an outside of the washing tub, and wherein the turbidity sensor, the conductivity sensor, and the spectroscopic sensor are disposed at an internal lower portion of the washing tub. 
     
     
         6 . A control method of a laundry treating apparatus, comprising:
 detecting an amount of laundry contained in a washing tub;   determining a water supply amount based on the amount of laundry;   collecting first contamination data by detecting a dust concentration or gas concentration in the washing tub;   determining an expected washing time based on the amount of laundry and the first contamination data;   performing washing in the washing tub according to the water supply amount and the expected washing time;   collecting second contamination data to indicate a contamination level of washing water, based on at least one of conductivity, turbidity, or spectroscopy information of the washing water measured during the performing of the washing; and   determining whether to continue the washing or stop the washing based on a comparison of the second contamination data and a threshold contamination level, wherein the threshold contamination level is a set value of contamination of washing water.   
     
     
         7 . The control method of  claim 6 , wherein the performing of the washing comprises:
 supplying washing water to the washing tub according to the water supply amount; and   operating the washing tub by controlling a driver.   
     
     
         8 . The control method of  claim 6 , wherein the determination is to stop the washing when a result of the comparison is that the second contamination data exceeds the threshold contamination level. 
     
     
         9 . The control method of  claim 8 , wherein when the determination is to stop the washing, the method comprises:
 draining the washing water contained in the washing tub and performing the supplying of the washing water.   
     
     
         10 . The control method of  claim 6 , wherein the determination is to continue the washing when a result of the comparison is that the second contamination data does not exceed the threshold contamination level. 
     
     
         11 . The control method of  claim 10 , wherein when the determination is to continue the washing, the method comprises:
 supplying washing water to the washing tub according to the water supply amount; and   operating the washing tub by controlling a driver.   
     
     
         12 . The control method of  claim 10 , wherein when the determination is to continuing the washing, the method comprises determining whether the expected washing time is exceeded. 
     
     
         13 . The control method of  claim 12 , wherein when the expected washing time is determined to be exceeded, the method comprises performing drainage of the washing water and stopping the washing. 
     
     
         14 . The control method of  claim 12 , wherein when the expected washing time is determined to not be exceeded, the method comprises:
 supplying washing water to the washing tub; and   operating the washing tub by controlling a driver.   
     
     
         15 . The control method of  claim 6 , wherein the collecting of the first contamination data includes displaying, on a display, a detected state of the dust concentration or the gas concentration in the washing tub. 
     
     
         16 . The control method of  claim 6 , wherein the determining of the expected washing time includes displaying, on a display, the expected washing time. 
     
     
         17 . The control method of  claim 6 , wherein when the determination is to continue the stopping of the washing, the method comprises displaying, on a display, a remaining washing time in which the expected washing time has been corrected based on the second contamination data. 
     
     
         18 . The control method of  claim 6 , comprising determining to continue the washing or stop the washing based on a comparison of the first contamination data measured at predetermined times or time intervals during the performing of the washing and stored data. 
     
     
         19 . The control method of  claim 6 , wherein the information measured during the performing of the washing is measured at predetermined times or predetermined intervals.