Dryer and control method for controlling dryer

Abstract

A dryer includes a case coupled to a water tank configured to store condensed water generated by a heat exchanger, a diaphragm coupled to the case, wherein a force according to a water level of the water tank is applied to the diaphragm, and a force sensor between the case and the diaphragm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dryer comprising:
 a drum;   a heat exchanger configured to heat air to be supplied into the drum;   a water tank configured to store condensed water generated by the heat exchanger;   a sensor device including a force sensor configured to detect a force generated by the condensed water stored in the water tank; and   at least one processor configured to identify whether a drying operation of the dryer has been completed based on sensor data collected by the force sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein
 the sensor device further comprises:
 a case coupled to the water tank; and 
 a diaphragm coupled to the case, and 
   wherein a force according to a water level of the water tank is applied to the diaphragm, and the force sensor is between the case and the diaphragm.   
     
     
         3 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one processor is further configured to:
 identify an amount of change in a water level of the water tank per a unit time based on the sensor data collected by the force sensor; and 
 identify that the drying operation has been completed in response to the amount of change in the water level of the water tank per the unit time being smaller than a reference value. 
   
     
     
         4 . The dryer of  claim 3 , wherein
 the at least one processor is further configured to:
 set the reference value based on an amount of change in a water level of the water tank for a reference time according to elapse of a preset time after the drying operation begins. 
   
     
     
         5 . The dryer of  claim 3 , further comprising a drain pump configured to discharge the condensed water in the water tank to outside of the water tank,
 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 operate the drain pump based on a water level of the water tank reaching a reference water level; and 
 identify an amount of change in a water level of the water tank while the drain pump does not operate. 
   
     
     
         6 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 identify a water level of the water tank based on the sensor data collected by the force sensor; and   identify that the drying operation has been completed in response to the water level of the water tank not reaching a reference water level from a preset minimum water level for a reference time.   
     
     
         7 . The dryer of  claim 6 , further comprising a drain pump configured to discharge the condensed water in the water tank to outside of the water tank,
 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to operate the drain pump in response to a water level of the water tank reaching the reference water level.   
     
     
         8 . The dryer of  claim 7 , wherein
 the at least one processor is further configured to:
 stop the drain pump in response to the water level of the water tank reaching the preset minimum water level; and 
 set the reference time based on a time taken for the water level of the water tank to reach the reference water level from the preset minimum water level after the drying operation begins and the drain pump operates a preset number of times. 
   
     
     
         9 . The dryer of  claim 2 , wherein
 a bottom of the water tank includes an opening,   the case closes the opening by being coupled to the water tank, and   the force sensor is configured to transfer the sensor data to the at least one processor through a wire passing through a hole formed in the case.   
     
     
         10 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the force sensor is configured to transfer the sensor data to the at least one processor through a wire passing through an upper portion of the water tank and exposed to outside of the water tank. 
     
     
         11 . The dryer of  claim 2 , wherein the water tank comprises:
 an inner housing in which the condensed water is accommodated; and   an outer housing positioned outside the inner housing,   wherein the force sensor is configured to transfer the sensor data to the at least one processor through a wire passing through a space between the inner housing and the outer housing and exposed to outside of the water tank.   
     
     
         12 . The dryer of  claim 11 , wherein
 the case includes a hole through the space between the inner housing and the outer housing, and   the wire passes through the hole.   
     
     
         13 . The dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrode sensor provided inside the drum, and
 the at least one processor is further configured to identify that the drying operation has been completed in response to satisfaction of a completion condition of the drying operation by the electrode sensor and satisfaction of a completion condition of the drying operation by the force sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The dryer of  claim 2 , wherein
 the sensor device further comprises a metal plate positioned between the diaphragm and the force sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The dryer of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor data includes an intensity value of the force applied to the diaphragm. 
     
     
         16 . A control method of a dryer including a water tank configured to store condensed water generated by a heat exchanger for heating air to be supplied into a drum, and a sensor device configured to detect a force generated by the condensed water stored in the water tank, the sensor device including a case coupled to the water tank, a diaphragm coupled to the case, wherein a force according to a water level of the water tank is applied to the diaphragm, and a force sensor provided between the case and the diaphragm,
 the control method comprising:
 identifying a water level of the water tank based on sensor data collected by the force sensor; and 
 identifying whether a drying operation has been completed based on the water level of the water tank. 
   
     
     
         17 . The control method of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor data includes an intensity value of the force applied to the diaphragm. 
     
     
         18 . The control method of  claim 16 , wherein the identifying of the water level of the water tank includes identifying an amount of change in a water level of the water tank per a unit time based on the sensor data collected by the force sensor, and the identifying of whether the drying operation has been completed based on the water level of the water tank includes identifying that the drying operation has been completed in response to the amount of change in the water level of the water tank per the unit time being a reference value or less. 
     
     
         19 . The control method of  claim 18 , further comprising setting the reference value based on an amount of change in a water level of the water tank for a reference time according to elapse of a preset time after the drying operation begins. 
     
     
         20 . The control method of  claim 18 , wherein the identifying of whether the drying operation has been completed based on the water level of the water tank includes identifying that the drying operation has been completed in response to the water level of the water tank not reaching the reference water level from a preset minimum water level for the reference time.