Dryer and method for controlling same

Abstract

A dryer includes a main body; a drum in the main body, the drum being rotatable and configured to receive an object to be dried by the dryer; a driving motor configured to rotate the drum; an input module configured to receive a command to perform a dry mode or a dehumidification mode from a user; a heat exchanger in the main body; and a controller configured to: in response to receiving the command to perform the dry mode, control the driving motor to rotate the drum at a first rotation speed, and in response to receiving the command to perform the dehumidification mode, control the driving motor to rotate the drum at a second rotation speed different from the first rotation speed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dryer comprising:
 a main body;   a drum in the main body, the drum being rotatable and configured to receive an object to be dried by the dryer;   a driving motor configured to rotate the drum;   an input module configured to receive a command to perform a dry mode or a dehumidification mode from a user;   a heat exchanger in the main body; and   a controller configured to:   in response to receiving the command to perform the dry mode, control the driving motor to rotate the drum at a first rotation speed, and   in response to receiving the command to perform the dehumidification mode, control the driving motor to rotate the drum at a second rotation speed different from the first rotation speed.   
     
     
         2 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the second rotation speed is lower than the first rotation speed. 
     
     
         3 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the second rotation speed is higher than the first rotation speed. 
     
     
         4 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein in response to receiving the command to perform the dehumidification mode, the controller is configured to control the driving motor to rotate the drum so that air brought in from outside the dryer reaches an inner surface of the drum. 
     
     
         5 . The dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a compressor configured to provide a compressed refrigerant to a condenser and wherein the controller is further configured to:   in response to receiving the command to perform the dry mode, control the compressor so that the temperature in the drum is the first temperature in the dry mode, and   in response to receiving the command to perform the dehumidification mode, control the compressor so that the temperature in the drum is a second temperature different from the first temperature.   
     
     
         6 . The dryer of  claim 5 , wherein the second temperature is lower than the first temperature. 
     
     
         7 . The dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fan configured to generate wind power;   wherein the controller further configured to control the fan to form an open flow path for air brought in from outside the dryer to pass through the heat exchanger and the drum and flow back to outside the dryer in the dehumidification mode.   
     
     
         8 . The dryer of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to receiving the command to perform the dehumidification mode, control operation of the fan. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling a dryer that includes a main body, a rotatable drum in the main body and configured to receive an object to be dried by the dryer, a driving motor configured to rotate the drum, and a heat exchanger in the main body, the method comprising:
 receiving a command to perform a dehumidification mode from a user;   controlling a fan to form an open flow path for air brought in from outside the dryer to pass through the heat exchanger and the drum and flow back to outside the dryer in the dehumidification and   controlling a driving motor to rotate the drum at a second rotation speed in the dehumidification mode,   wherein the second rotation speed is different from a first rotation speed which is a rotation speed of the drum performing a dry mode.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second rotation speed is lower than the first rotation speed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second rotation speed is higher than the first rotation speed. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the controlling of the driving motor comprises rotating the drum so that air brought in from outside the dryer reaches an inner surface of the drum. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the dryer further includes a compressor providing a compressed refrigerant to a condenser, the method further comprising:
 controlling the compressor so that the temperature in the drum is a second temperature,   wherein the second temperature is different from a first temperature which is the rotation speed of the drum performing a dry mode.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second temperature is lower than the first temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fan operates in response to receiving a command to select the dehumidification mode through an input module.