Dryer and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A dryer may include: a cabinet; a drum rotatable in the cabinet; a drying portion configured to dry an object accommodated in the drum; a motor configured to rotate the drum; a plurality of electrodes on an inner surface of the drum in an axial direction of the drum, the plurality of electrodes being configured to detect at least one electrode impedance of the object; and a controller configured to determine a dryness level of the object for each of areas inside the drum based on the at least one electrode impedance detected by the plurality of electrodes, and control the drying portion and the motor based on the determined dryness level of the object for each of the areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dryer comprising:
 a cabinet;   a drum rotatable in the cabinet and configured to accommodate an object therein;   a drying portion configured to dry the object accommodated in the drum;   a motor configured to rotate the drum;   a plurality of electrodes on an inner surface of the drum in an axial direction of the drum, the plurality of electrodes being configured to detect at least one electrode impedance of the object; and   a controller configured to determine a dryness level of the object for each of areas inside the drum based on the at least one electrode impedance detected by the plurality of electrodes, and control the drying portion and the motor based on the determined dryness level of the object for each of the areas.   
     
     
         2 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the motor to increase a rotation speed of the drum, based on a first dryness level of the object located in a rear area inside the drum being lower than a second dryness level of the object located in a front area inside the drum. 
     
     
         3 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the motor to alternately rotate the drum in a forward direction and a reverse direction, based on a first dryness level of the object located in a lower area inside the drum being lower than a second dryness level of the object located in an upper area inside the drum. 
     
     
         4 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in at least two rows extending in the axial direction, and
 wherein the controller is further configured to determine a first dryness level of the object based on at least one electrode impedance between electrodes that face each other in the at least two rows.   
     
     
         5 . The dryer of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a second dryness level of the object based on at least one electrode impedance between electrodes that do not face each other in the at least two rows. 
     
     
         6 . The dryer of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a final dryness level of the object based on an average value of the first dryness level and the second dryness level. 
     
     
         7 . The dryer of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the plurality of electrodes to detect the at least one electrode impedance of the object at preset intervals. 
     
     
         8 . The dryer of  claim 6 , wherein the controller further is configured to provide a notification to recommend stopping a drying operation, based on the final dryness level of the object being greater than or equal to a reference value after a reference time period. 
     
     
         9 . The dryer of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a material of the object based on the final dryness level of the object, and control the drying portion and the motor to change a drying time or a drying course based on the determined material. 
     
     
         10 . The dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide a notification of a change in a drying time or a drying course, based on the drying time or the drying course being changed. 
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling a dryer comprising a cabinet, a drum rotatable in the cabinet, a drying portion configured to dry an object accommodated in the drum, a motor configured to rotate the drum, and a plurality of electrodes arranged on an inner surface of the drum in an axial direction of the drum, the method comprising:
 determining a dryness level of the object for each of areas inside the drum based on at least one electrode impedance detected by the plurality of electrodes; and   controlling the drying portion and the motor based on the determined dryness level of the object for each of the areas.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controlling the motor comprises controlling the motor to increase a rotation speed of the drum, based on a first dryness level of the object located in a rear area inside the drum being lower than a second dryness level of the object located in a front area inside the drum. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controlling the motor comprises controlling the motor to alternately rotate the drum in a forward direction and a reverse direction, based on a first dryness level of the object located in a lower area inside the drum being lower than a second dryness level of the object located in an upper area inside the drum. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in at least two rows extending in the axial direction, and
 wherein the determining the dryness level of the object comprises determining a first dryness level of the object based on at least one electrode impedance between electrodes that face each other in the at least two rows.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the determining the dryness level of the object further comprises determining a second dryness level of the object based on at least one electrode impedance between electrodes that do not face each other in the at least two rows. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the determining the dryness level of the object further comprises determining a final dryness level of the object based on an average value of the first dryness level and the second dryness level. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the detecting the electrode impedance of the object comprises detecting the at least one electrode impedance of the object at preset intervals. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a notification to recommend stopping a drying operation, based on the final dryness level of the object to be dried being greater than or equal to a reference value after a reference time period. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the controlling the drying portion and the motor comprises determining a material of the object based on the final dryness level of the object to be dried, and controlling the drying portion and the motor to change a drying time or a drying course based on the determined material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a notification of a change in a drying time or a drying course, based on the drying time or the drying course being changed.