Apparatus for treating laundry

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for treating laundry. The apparatus for treating laundry, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprises: a washer; a dryer; and a control panel disposed between the front panel of the washer and the front panel of the dryer so as to provide a user interface (UI) for at least one of the washer and the dryer. The control panel comprises: a flat display for displaying one of a washer manipulation UI and a dryer manipulation UI; and a switching button. When an input from the switching button is received while the flat display is displaying the washer manipulation UI, the flat display displays the dryer manipulation UI. When an input from the switching button is received while the flat display is displaying the dryer manipulation UI, the flat display displays the washer manipulation UI.

1 . A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
 a washing machine comprising a washing machine front panel provided on a front side thereof and a first drum provided therein to receive laundry;   a drying machine disposed on the washing machine, the drying machine comprising a drying machine front panel provided on a front side thereof and a second drum provided therein to receive laundry; and   a control panel provided between the washing machine front panel and the drying machine front panel, the control panel being configured to provide a user interface (UI) of at least one of the washing machine or the drying machine,   wherein the control panel comprises a flat panel display configured to display one of a washing machine operation UI for operation of the washing machine and a drying machine operation UI for operation of the drying machine,   wherein, based on an input of a switching button provided at the control panel is in a state in which the washing machine operation UI is displayed on the flat panel display, the flat panel display displays the drying machine operation UI, and   wherein, based on an input of the switching button in a state in which the drying machine operation UI is displayed on the flat panel display, the flat panel display displays the washing machine operation UI.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, based on both the washing machine and the drying machine being in an on state, the switching button is activated. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, in a state in which one of the washing machine and the drying machine is in operation, based on a remaining one of the washing machine and the drying machine being turned on, the switching button is activated. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel comprises a touch film located on a front surface of the flat panel display. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the switching button is provided as a touch sensor separated from the touch film. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the control panel comprises:
 a power button configured to receive a user input to turn the washing machine or the drying machine on and off; and   an execution button configured to receive a user input to execute or pause operation of the washing machine or the drying machine, and   wherein the power button and the execution button are provided as touch sensors separated from the touch film.   
     
     
         7 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a light-emitting element disposed at rear of the switching button, the light-emitting element being configured to emit light in an activated state of the switching button. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, based on the flat panel display displaying a remaining one of the washing machine operation UI and the drying machine operation UI in response to input of the switching button in a state in which one of the washing machine operation UI and the drying machine operation UI is displayed, if input is not received from a user for a preset time period or longer, the flat panel display again displays the one of the washing machine operation UI and the drying machine operation UI. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein, if a user input is not received for a preset time period or longer in an activated state of the switching button, the switching button is deactivated. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flat panel display is configured to output an indicator indicating a currently operated object among the washing machine and the drying machine. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine operation UI is configured to display one or more letters in a first text color, and
 wherein the drying machine operation UI displays one or more letters in a second text color different from the first text color.   
     
     
         12 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flat panel display is configured to display a composite UI in which operation information of the washing machine and operation information of the drying machine are displayed on a single screen. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the switching button is configured to be deactivated in a state in which the composite UI is displayed. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the operation information of the washing machine is displayed in a first area of the composite UI and the operation information of the drying machine is configured to be displayed in a second area of the composite UI,
 wherein, based on a user touch input being received from the first area, the washing machine operation UI is displayed on the flat panel display, and   wherein, based on a user touch input being received from the second area, the drying machine operation UI is displayed on the flat panel display.   
     
     
         15 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first area is an upper area of the composite UI, and
 wherein the second area is a lower area of the composite UI.   
     
     
         16 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel comprises:
 a first execution button configured to receive a user input to execute or pause operation of the washing machine; and   a second execution button configured to receive a user input to execute or pause operation of the drying machine.   
     
     
         17 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel comprises:
 a first power button configured to receive a user input to turn the washing machine on and off; and   a second power button configured to receive a user input to turn the drying machine on and off.   
     
     
         18 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel further comprises a power button spaced apart from the flat panel display, the power button being configured to receive a user input to turn the washing machine or the drying machine on and off,
 wherein the power button is provided at a position spaced apart from the flat panel display in one direction, and   wherein the switching button is located between the power button and the flat panel display.   
     
     
         19 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the control panel further comprises an execution button configured to receive a user input to execute or pause operation of the washing machine or the drying machine, and
 wherein the execution button is provided at a position spaced apart from the flat panel display in an opposite direction.   
     
     
         20 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein, upon receiving a user input for turn-on of the washing machine from the first power button, the laundry treating apparatus is configured to display the washing machine operation UI on the flat panel display, and
 wherein, upon receiving a user input for turn-on of the drying machine from the second power button, the laundry treating apparatus is configured to display the drying machine operation UI on the flat panel display.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled)