Dryer and control method therefor

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a dryer that performs an ice removal operation. To this end, provided are: a drum configured to receive a drying item, at least one first sensor configured to detect a presence of the drying item in the drum, a pump chamber configured to store condensate, a drain pump configured to discharge the condensate from the pump chamber, and a controller configured to, when detecting the drying item in the drum based on a signal of the at least one first sensor, limit a number of forced drains of the drain pump to reduce a water level of the pump chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dryer, comprising:
 a drum configured to receive a drying item;   at least one first sensor configured to detect a presence of the drying item in the drum;   a pump chamber configured to store condensate;   a drain pump configured to discharge the condensate from the pump chamber; and   a controller configured to, when detecting the drying item in the drum based on a signal of the at least one first sensor, limit a number of forced drains of the drain pump to reduce a water level of the pump chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising a driving motor configured to rotate the drum,
 wherein the at least one first sensor includes a current sensor configured to obtain a driving current value of the driving motor, and   wherein the controller is further configured to:
 compare the obtained driving current value with a threshold current value, and 
 determine whether the drying item is present in the drum based on a result of the comparison. 
   
     
     
         3 . The dryer of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the drying item is present in the drum when the obtained driving current value is larger than the threshold current value by an error value or more. 
     
     
         4 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one first sensor includes a humidity sensor configured to obtain a humidity value in the drum, and   the controller is configured to:
 compare the obtained humidity value with a threshold humidity value, and 
 determine whether the drying item is present in the drum based on a result of the comparison. 
   
     
     
         5 . The dryer of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the drying item is present in the drum when the obtained humidity value is the threshold humidity value or more. 
     
     
         6 . The dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor configured to detect the water level of the pump chamber,
 wherein the controller, upon detecting arrival, at a threshold water level, of the water level of the pump chamber based on a signal of the second sensor, is configured to:
 drive the drain pump to forcedly drain the condensate stored in the pump chamber, and 
 count a number of times of driving of the drain pump for the forced drains. 
   
     
     
         7 . The dryer of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to stop driving the drain pump for the forced drains when the counted number of times of driving reaches the limited number of forced drains and the water level of the pump chamber is the threshold water level. 
     
     
         8 . The dryer of  claim 7 , further comprising a display configured to provide status information about the dryer to a user,
 wherein the controller is further configured to control the display to output a message for guiding to a drain error when the driving of the drain pump for the forced drains is stopped.   
     
     
         9 . The dryer of  claim 6 , further comprising a blower fan configured to generate an air flow circulating through the drum,
 wherein the controller is further configured to drive the blower fan for a predetermined time when the water level of the pump chamber is lower than the threshold water level.   
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a dryer, the dryer including:
 a drum configured to receive a drying item;   at least one first sensor configured to detect the drying item in the drum;   a pump chamber configured to store condensate;   a second sensor configured to detect a water level of the pump chamber; and   a drain pump configured to discharge the condensate,   wherein the method comprises:
 obtaining information for detecting the drying item in the drum through the at least one first sensor; 
 obtaining water level information about the pump chamber through the second sensor; 
 determining whether the water level of the pump chamber is a full water level based on the obtained water level information about the pump chamber; 
 determining whether the drying item is present in the drum based on the information for detecting the drying item in the drum when the water level of the pump chamber is the full water level; and 
 limiting a number of forced drains of the pump chamber to lower the water level of the pump chamber when the drying item is present in the drum. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 rotating, using a driving motor the drum;   obtaining, using a current sensor as the at least one first sensor, a driving current value of the driving motor; and   determining whether the drying item is present in the drum comprises:
 comparing the obtained driving current value with a threshold current value, and 
 determining whether the drying item is present in the drum based on a result of the comparison. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 obtaining, using a humidity sensor as the at least one first sensor, a humidity value in the drum, and   determining whether the drying item is present in the drum comprises:
 comparing the obtained humidity value with a threshold humidity value, and 
 determining whether the drying item is present in the drum based on a result of the comparison. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein limiting the number of forced drains of the drain pump comprises:
 driving the drain pump to forcedly drain the condensate stored in the pump chamber, and   counting a number of times of driving of the drain pump for the forced drains.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising stopping driving the drain pump for the forced drains when the counted number of times of driving reaches the limit number of forced drains and the water level of the pump chamber is the full water level. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 providing, using a display of the dryer, status information about the dryer to a user, and   outputting a message for guiding to a drain error on the display when the driving of the drain pump for the forced drains is stopped.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 generating, using a blower fan, an air flow circulating through the drum; and   driving the blower fan for a predetermined time when the water level of the pump chamber is lower than a threshold water level.   
     
     
         17 . A dryer comprising:
 a drum configured to receive a drying item;   at least one first sensor configured to detect the drying item in the drum;   a pump chamber configured to store condensate;   a second sensor configured to detect a water level of the pump chamber; and   a drain pump configured to discharge the condensate; and   a controller configured to:
 obtain information for detecting the drying item in the drum through the at least one first sensor; 
 obtain water level information about the pump chamber through the second sensor; 
 determine whether the water level of the pump chamber is a full water level based on the obtained water level information about the pump chamber; 
 determine whether the drying item is present in the drum based on the information for detecting the drying item in the drum when the water level of the pump chamber is the full water level; and 
 limit a number of forced drains of the pump chamber to lower the water level of the pump chamber when the drying item is present in the drum. 
   
     
     
         18 . The dryer of  claim 17 , further includes a driving motor configured to rotate the drum;
 wherein the controller is further configured to obtain, using a current sensor as the at least one first sensor, a driving current value of the driving motor; and   wherein to determine whether the drying item is present in the drum the controller is configured to:
 compare the obtained driving current value with a threshold current value, and 
 determine whether the drying item is present in the drum based on a result of the comparison. 
   
     
     
         19 . The dryer of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least one first sensor includes a humidity sensor configured to obtain a humidity value in the drum, and   to determine whether the drying item is present in the drum the controller is configured to:
 compare the obtained humidity value with a threshold humidity value, and 
 determine whether the drying item is present in the drum based on a result of the comparison. 
   
     
     
         20 . The dryer of  claim 17 , wherein to limit the number of forced drains of the drain pump the controller is configured to:
 drive the drain pump to forcedly drain the condensate stored in the pump chamber, and   count a number of times of driving of the drain pump for the forced drains.