Patents by Inventor Kyung-Chul Woo

Kyung-Chul Woo has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080072693
    Abstract: Provided are a scent supply apparatus and a washing/drying machine including the same. The scent supply apparatus of a washing/drying machine including a tub in a casing, and a guide duct carrying air into the tub, is detachably installed at one side of the guide duct and supplies a scent into the tub. Because the scent supply apparatus is installed in the guide duct, the scent may be forcibly supplied into the washing/drying machine by the air being introduced into the tub from the guide duct. Accordingly, the scent may be actively supplied into the washing/drying machine, without depending only on its own diffusion, thereby improving scent supply efficiency. Also, when the scent source is exhausted and there is a need for replenishment thereof, a user may easily perform the replenishment of a scent source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyeong Hwan Kim, Si Moon Jeon, Kyung-Chul Woo
  • Patent number: 7341066
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a tub disposed inside a cabinet, for storing water; a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub, for washing laundry; and a steam generating apparatus disposed at the cabinet, for generating steam supplied to the inside of the drum, by using high-frequency induction heating. Accordingly, by generating steam using high-frequency induction heating, a structure of the steam generating apparatus can be simplified, and performance of generating steam can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Soo Young Oh, Kyung Chul Woo, Jin Woong Kim, Si Moon Jeon
  • Patent number: 7299665
    Abstract: A drum-type washing machine, having a plurality of lifts installed on an inner circumferential surface of a drum, enables improved washing performance by providing friction plates on the inclined sides of each lift to increase a frictional force between the lift and laundry. Each lift includes a pair of inclined sides, disposed in opposition to each other to form a shape having a regular trapezoidal cross-section, for lifting laundry; and a pair of friction plates, consisting of a pair of opposing surfaces respectively provided on each inclined side and having a multitude of protuberances formed on both faces, to increase a frictional force with respect to the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Woong Kim, Soo Young Oh, Hyun Seok Seo, Tae Hee Lee, Joon Woo Kim, Kyung Chul Woo
  • Patent number: 7299515
    Abstract: A washing machine control method accurately determines an amount of laundry in the washing machine, while driving a motor coupled to a drum under load, based on a computed average of pulse width modulation values at the time of stopping the drive of a motor and the motor's rotational angle as the motor freewheels to a stop, in order to conserve water and reduce the time required for performing a washing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Soo Young Oh, Jin Woong Kim, Hyun Seok Seo, Tae Hee Lee, Joon Woo Kim, Kyung Chul Woo
  • Publication number: 20070240458
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a case that forms a predetermined space for storing water, a heater provided within the case, a sealing member for preventing water leakage from the case, and a pressure part to press the sealing member and the heater. The sealing member is also configured to secure and seal the heater such that water is prevented from penetrating or leaking toward a circuit part of the heater. A drum-type washing machine having the steam generator installed therein is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyeong Hwan Kim, Si Moon Jeon, Kyung Chul Woo
  • Publication number: 20070227030
    Abstract: A dryer is configured to remove static electricity during a drying process. The dryer includes a drum rotatable within a cabinet. The drum is configured to receive laundry. A steam generator generates and exhausts steam into the drum. A steam diffuser uniformly diffuses the steam within the drum. A ventilation system ventilates air within the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Soo Young Oh, Si Moon Jeon, Kyung Chul Woo
  • Publication number: 20070199353
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a steam generator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a steam generator which has a compact design to enhance efficiency, and to a drum-type washing machine with this steam generator. The steam generator includes a heater that heats water to generate steam; a lower case that holds water for steam generation, having a heater holding part in which the heater is vertically oriented in the heater holding part, and an upper case coupled to an upper portion of the lower case to form a predetermined space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Ki Chul Woo, Si Moon Jeon, Kyung Chul Woo
  • Patent number: 7251848
    Abstract: A method for controlling the dehydrating operation of a drum type washing machine includes a pre-acceleration step for accelerating a drum to a predetermined control starting speed, and a main accelerating step for accelerating the drum from the control starting speed to a target speed along a linear locus having a preset acceleration slope. A deviation of the center of gravity of the laundry and a pre-spinning time period are reduced in the aforementioned control method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Woong Kim, Hyun Seok Seo, Tae Hee Lee, Joon Woo Kim, Kyung Chul Woo, Si Moon Jeon, Soo Young Oh
  • Patent number: 7246397
    Abstract: A method for controlling the dehydrating operation of a drum type washing machine includes a pre-acceleration step for accelerating a drum to a predetermined control starting speed, and a main accelerating step for accelerating the drum from the control starting speed to a target speed along a linear locus having a preset acceleration slope. A deviation of the center of gravity of the laundry and a pre-spinning time period are reduced in the aforementioned control method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Woong Kim, Hyun Seok Seo, Tae Hee Lee, Joon Woo Kim, Kyung Chul Woo, Si Moon Jeon, Soo Young Oh
  • Publication number: 20070130697
    Abstract: A method for smoothing the laundry wrinkled during a washing process in the washing machine is disclosed. When a command signal for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in the washing machine is inputted, water supplied in the washing machine is heated to generate steam and then the generated steam is injected to the laundry in the washing machine while rotating a drum of the washing machine. Thus, wrinkles of the laundry can be smoothed in the washing machine without causing a trouble of ironing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Soo Oh, Kyung-Chul Woo, Jin-Woong Kim, Si-Moon Jeon
  • Publication number: 20060191077
    Abstract: A washing machine and control method thereof are disclosed, by which water waste is reduced and by which an error or malfunction of the washing machine is detected and by which the detected error or malfunction of the washing machine is notified to a user. The present invention includes the steps of measuring an initial temperature of water supplied within a steam generator for providing steam to a drum, heating the water within the steam generator for a set time, measuring a temperature of the heated water within the steam generator, calculating a difference between the heated water temperature and the initial water temperature, and deciding a presence or non-presence of abnormality of the steam generator based on the calculated temperature difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventors: Soo Young Oh, Si Moon Jeon, Kyung Chul Woo
  • Patent number: 7059002
    Abstract: A dehydration control method of a drum washing machine includes accelerating a drum to a first rotational speed when a uniforming process is finished, measuring first eccentricity when the rotational speed of the drum reaches the first rotational speed, comparing the measured first eccentricity with a preset first reference eccentricity, storing the measured first eccentricity when the measured first eccentricity is less than the preset first reference eccentricity, accelerating the rotational speed of the drum to a second rotational speed and measuring a second eccentricity when the rotational speed reaches the second rotational speed, comparing the measured second eccentricity with the stored first measured eccentricity, and performing a dehydrating process when the measured second eccentricity is less than the stored first measured eccentricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae-Hee Lee, Kyung-Chul Woo, Soo-Young Oh
  • Publication number: 20060010937
    Abstract: A steam generation apparatus for a washing machine includes: a case having an accommodating space for storing water; a heater disposed inside the case to heat the water stored in the case; and a heater overheating prevention unit for cutting off power of the heater when the heater is overheated above the set temperature, so that a fire and deflection of a case can be prevented by preventing overheating of the heater by cutting off power being supplied to the heater when the heater is overheated due to malfunctions of a water level sensor or a clogged spray nozzle or a clogged flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Woong Kim, Kyung-Chul Woo, Si-Moon Jeon
  • Publication number: 20060010613
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of washing laundry in a drum washing machine by which the amount of wash water used and the amount of power use can be decreased when doing washing in the drum washing machine. The method comprises supplying wash water to a tub up to a first preset water level; and washing laundry in a drum by rotating the drum of the drum washing machine forward and backward simultaneously while drawing the wash water and supplying the drawn wash water to the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Si-Moon Jeon, Na-Eun Kim, Kyung-Chul Woo
  • Publication number: 20050252250
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling steam generating unit of washing machine is disclosed to reduce power consumption of the washing machine by correcting a temperature value detected by a temperature sensor installed in the washing machine to be the same as an actual temperature value of the laundry. The apparatus for controlling steam generating unit of washing machine includes a correcting unit for correcting a temperature value detected by a temperature sensor installed in the washing machine based on a pre-set temperature correction coefficient according to the weight of the laundry inside the washing machine; and a controller for controlling power applied to a steam generating unit in the washing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Soo-Young Oh, Kyung-Chul Woo, Yang-Hoon Chung
  • Publication number: 20050086743
    Abstract: A method for controlling the dehydrating operation of a drum type washing machine includes a pre-acceleration step for accelerating a drum to a predetermined control starting speed, and a main accelerating step for accelerating the drum from the control starting speed to a target speed along a linear locus having a preset acceleration slope. A deviation of the center of gravity of the laundry and a pre-spinning time period are reduced in the aforementioned control method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Jin Kim, Hyun Seok Seo, Tae Hee Lee, Joon Woo Kim, Kyung Chul Woo, Si Moon Jeon, Soo Young Oh
  • Publication number: 20050076456
    Abstract: In a dehydration control method of a drum washing machine capable of improving reliability of eccentricity sensing by sensing not only forward eccentricity but also diagonal eccentricity by performing eccentricity sensing at a low speed and a high speed respectively, the method includes a first step for accelerating a drum to a first rotational speed when a uniforming process is finished; a second step for measuring first eccentricity when the rotational speed of the drum reaches the first rotational speed; a third step for comparing the measured first eccentricity with a preset first reference eccentricity; a fourth step for storing the measured first eccentricity when the measured first eccentricity is less than the preset first reference eccentricity in the third step; a fifth step for accelerating the rotational speed of the drum to a second rotational speed and measuring a second eccentricity when it reaches the second rotational speed; a sixth process for comparing the measured second eccentricity with
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae-Hee Lee, Kyung-Chul Woo, Soo-Young Oh
  • Publication number: 20050034250
    Abstract: A heating apparatus of a washing machine comprises: a steam generator for generating steam; and a spray nozzle for spraying steam generated from the steam generator into a tub, in which a water level sensor for detecting a level of water supplied for steam generation step by step is mounted at the steam generator. According to this, an entire size of the washing machine is reduced, an amount of washing water is reduced, and a water level inside the steam generator is detected more accurately, thereby enhancing a performance of the heating apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Soo Young Oh, Kyung Chul Woo, Jin Woong Kim, Si Moon Jeon
  • Publication number: 20050034249
    Abstract: Disclosed are a washing method of a washing machine capable of preventing a phenomenon that remaining detergent is collected into a space where a heater is positioned or a specific space during a washing operation of laundry, capable of minimizing a generation of washing water unnecessarily supplied to the washing machine, and capable of fast heating corresponding laundry before a washing operation for an efficient washing operation, and an apparatus thereof. To this end, the method comprises the steps of: generating steam by heating washing water supplied into a washing machine; injecting the generated steam into laundry inside of a drum of the washing machine; and rotating the drum after injecting the steam into the laundry and thereby washing the laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Soo-Young Oh, Kyung-Chul Woo, Jin-Woong Kim, Si-Moon Jeon
  • Publication number: 20050034248
    Abstract: A method for smoothing the laundry wrinkled during a washing process in the washing machine is disclosed. When a command signal for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in the washing machine is inputted, water supplied in the washing machine is heated to generate steam and then the generated steam is injected to the laundry in the washing machine while rotating a drum of the washing machine. Thus, wrinkles of the laundry can be smoothed in the washing machine without causing a trouble of ironing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Soo-Young Oh, Kyung-Chul Woo, Jin-Woong Kim, Si-Moon Jeon