Laundry treating apparatus and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet having an opening in a front surface thereof, a drawer accommodated in the cabinet, the drawer being configured to be extendable and retractable through the opening, a tub accommodated in the drawer, the tub having an inlet in a top surface thereof, the tub being configured to accommodate water therein, a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, the drum being configured to accommodate laundry therein, a driver coupled to the tub; the driver being configured to rotate the drum, and a multi-function inputter located on an exposed surface of the drawer, the multi-function inputter being configured to receive different commands depending on states of the laundry treating apparatus.

1 . A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet having an opening in a front surface thereof;   a drawer accommodated in the cabinet, the drawer being configured to be extendable and retractable through the opening;   a tub accommodated in the drawer, the tub having an inlet in a top surface thereof, the tub being configured to accommodate water therein;   a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, the drum being configured to accommodate laundry therein;   a driver coupled to the tub; the driver being configured to rotate the drum; and   a multi-function inputter located on an exposed surface of the drawer, the multi-function inputter being configured to receive different commands depending on states of the laundry treating apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-function inputter is configured to receive a power command to supply power to the driver when power supply to the driver is off. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a withdrawer disposed in the cabinet, the withdrawer being configured to withdraw the drawer through the opening,
 wherein the multi-function inputter is configured to receive a withdrawal command to withdraw the drawer from the cabinet when power is supplied to the driver and the withdrawer.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the withdrawer is configured to withdraw the drawer from the cabinet when the driver stops rotating the drum. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein, when the drum is rotating, the multi-function inputter is configured to be prevented from receiving the withdrawal command. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein, when the drum is rotating, the multi-function inputter is configured to receive a command other than the withdrawal command. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a water level sensor configured to sense a water level of the tub,
 wherein, when water is accommodated in the tub, the multi-function inputter is configured to be prevented from receiving the withdrawal command.   
     
     
         8 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a water level sensor configured to sense a water level of the tub,
 wherein, when water is accommodated in the tub, the multi-function inputter is configured to receive a command other than the withdrawal command.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a drawer locker disposed on one of the cabinet and the drawer, the drawer locker being configured to:
 lock the drawer to prevent the drawer from being withdrawn from the cabinet; and   unlock the drawer when the withdrawal command is input.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein, when the driver stops operating the drum, the drawer locker is further configured to unlock the drawer. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a water level sensor configured to sense a water level of the tub,
 wherein, when water has been completely drained from the tub, the drawer locker is further configured to unlock the drawer.   
     
     
         12 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, when the driver is rotating the drum, the multi-function inputter is configured to receive a stop command to stop rotation of the drum. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a withdrawer disposed in the cabinet, the withdrawer being configured to extend the drawer through the opening,
 wherein, when the driver stops rotating the drum, the multi-function inputter is configured to receive a withdrawal command to extend the drawer from the cabinet.   
     
     
         14 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication module in communication with a separate apparatus disposed outside the cabinet,
 wherein the multi-function inputter is further configured to receive a connection command for the communication module to be paired with the separate apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein, when the multi-function inputter is pressed continuously for a certain period of time, the connection command is input. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein, when the communication module is connected to the separate apparatus, the driver is configured to be controlled by the separate apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the separate apparatus is a second laundry treating apparatus, the second laundry treating apparatus including:
 a main cabinet seated on top of the cabinet;   a main tub accommodated in the main cabinet, the main tub being configured to accommodate water therein;   a main drum rotatably accommodated in the main tub, the main drum being configured to accommodate the laundry therein;   a heat supply coupled to the main tub, the heat supply being configured to supply hot air to the main drum; and   a main communication module configured to be in communication with the communication module.   
     
     
         18 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein, when the multi-function inputter is pressed continuously for a certain period of time, the connection command is input. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second laundry treating apparatus further includes a main controller, and
 wherein, when the communication module is connected to the main communication module, the driver is configured to be controlled by the main controller.   
     
     
         20 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising an auxiliary controller, the auxiliary controller being configured to supply power to the main controller when the main controller is not supplied with power, when the multi-function inputter is pressed, to allow the main controller to operate.