Patents by Inventor Woore KIM

Woore KIM 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).

  • Patent number: 11136707
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry care apparatus in which an induction module heats the drum uniformly using a magnetic field to dry laundry or heat wash-water, and center and front and rear regions of the drum are uniformly heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventors: Beomjun Kim, Sangwook Hong, Woore Kim, Hongjun Cho
  • Patent number: 11131049
    Abstract: A washing machine includes: a tub; a drum; a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of air between the drum and the tub; an induction heater configured to heat the drum; a controller unit configured to control the induction heater within a preset control temperature range; a circuit configured to supply power to the induction heater; a first thermostat configured to operate according to a first temperature of air between the drum and the tub and open the circuit when the first temperature is a first safety control temperature; and a thermal fuse configured to operate according to a second temperature of air outside the tub and open the circuit when the second temperature is a second safety temperature corresponding to a case where the temperature of the drum is in a second safety temperature range having a larger value than the first safety temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jaehyuk Jang, Woore Kim, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 11124911
    Abstract: A washing machine includes: a tub; a drum; an induction heater disposed in a position spaced apart from the drum and configured to heat the drum; an input power source; a relay configured to interrupt a current applied to the coil of the induction heater from the input power source; a first processor configured to control the relay; and a safety device connected to a circuit connecting the first processor and the relay. The safety device includes: a first thermostat configured to operate according to a temperature of a first air between the drum and the tub, and open the circuit when the temperature of the first air is a first safety control temperature; and a thermal fuse configured to operate according to a temperature of a second air outside the tub, and open the circuit when the temperature of the second air is a second safety control temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Beomjun Kim, Woore Kim, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 11060232
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treatment apparatus, which directly heats a drum accommodating laundry and is enhanced in efficiency and safety. The laundry treatment apparatus includes a tub, a drum formed of a metal material and rotatably provided inside the tub to accommodate laundry, an induction module spaced apart from a circumferential surface of the drum to heat the circumferential surface of the drum via a magnetic field that is generated when current is applied to a coil, a lifter provided in the drum to move the laundry inside the drum when the drum rotates, a temperature sensor provided to sense a temperature of the drum, and a module controller configured to control an output of the induction module so as to control an amount of heat generated from the circumferential surface of the drum. The module controller controls the amount of heat based on the temperature sensed by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woore Kim, Changoh Kim, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 11060226
    Abstract: An object treating apparatus includes a tub, a rotatable drum for receiving an object, an induction heater for heating an outer circumferential face of the drum, a motor for rotating the drum, an upper temperature sensor, a lower temperature sensor, and a processor. The upper temperature sensor detects a temperature of a space between the tub and the drum. The upper temperature sensor is disposed inside the tube at an upper portion of the tub. The lower temperature sensor detects a temperature around condensed water at a bottom of the tub. The lower temperature sensor is disposed inside the tub at a lower portion of the tub. The processor can determine a drying ending timing based on the temperatures detected by the upper and lower temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woore Kim, Beomjun Kim, Sangwook Hong
  • Publication number: 20210164151
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clothes treatment apparatus and, more particularly, to a clothes treatment apparatus for directly heating a drum accommodating clothes. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, provided is a clothes treatment apparatus comprising: a tub; a drum, made of a metal, which accommodates clothes and is rotatably provided inside the tub; and an induction module, provided in the tub so as to have a spacing from a circumferential surface of the drum, for generating an electromagnetic field to heat the circumferential surface of the drum, wherein the induction module comprises: a coil which is formed by winding a wire such that electric current is applied thereto to generate a magnetic field; and a base housing mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the tub, wherein the base housing is provided with a coil slot for defining the shape of the coil in such a manner that the wire is mounted therein so as to have a predetermined distance between wire and wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Beomjun KIM, Woore KIM, Bio PARK, Seulgi PARK, Jaehyuk JANG, Sangwook HONG, Changoh KIM, Hyunwoo NOH
  • Patent number: 10988890
    Abstract: A laundry apparatus includes a drum rotatable on a shaft and including at least one predetermined region made of metal; a tub surrounding the drum; an inductor provided on the tub and heating the drum by generating an electromagnetic field; and an air passage duct including a first duct provided as a passage for exhausting air outside the tub, a second duct provided as a passage for sucking air into the tub, and a fan for generating air flow, wherein the air drawn into the tub via the second duct is supplied to an internal space of the drum via a penetrating hole provided in a circumferential surface of the drum by the fan and then exhausted to the first duct after passing through a drum opening provided in a front portion of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woore Kim, Hyunwoo Noh, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 10941511
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clothes treatment apparatus and, more particularly, to a clothes treatment apparatus for directly heating a drum accommodating clothes. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, provided is a clothes treatment apparatus comprising: a tub; a drum, made of a metal, which accommodates clothes and is rotatably provided inside the tub; and an induction module, provided in the tub so as to have a spacing from a circumferential surface of the drum, for generating an electromagnetic field to heat the circumferential surface of the drum, wherein the induction module comprises: a coil which is formed by winding a wire such that electric current is applied thereto to generate a magnetic field; and a base housing mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the tub, wherein the base housing is provided with a coil slot for defining the shape of the coil in such a manner that the wire is mounted therein so as to have a predetermined distance between wire and wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Beomjun Kim, Woore Kim, Bio Park, Seulgi Park, Jaehyuk Jang, Sangwook Hong, Changoh Kim, Hyunwoo Noh
  • Patent number: 10876247
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes: a tub; a drum configured to rotate within the tub and to receive laundry therein; and an induction module provided at an outer surface of the tub and configured to heat the drum via induction using a magnetic field generated by applying current to a coil formed by a wire that is wound within the induction module. The induction module includes a base housing configured to accommodate the coil, the base housing being mounted on the outer surface of the tub. The coil is formed with the wire being wound around within the base housing, and includes a straight portion and a curved portion, with a first radius of curvature of an inner coil portion of the curved portion of the coil being the same as a second radius of curvature of an outer coil portion of the curved portion of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woore Kim, Hongjun Cho, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 10876248
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treatment apparatus configured to directly heat a drum containing laundry therein using an induction module. The laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet, a drum for containing laundry therein, the drum being rotatably provided in the tub and being formed of a metallic material, an induction module provided so as to be spaced apart from the circumferential surface of the drum in order to heat the circumferential surface of the drum using a magnetic field generated by applying current to a coil, a module control unit for controlling the output of the induction module, a cooling path through which the outside of the cabinet, the interior of the module control unit and the interior of the induction module communicate sequentially with each other, and a fan provided in the cooling path. The apparatus is capable of improving efficiency and enhancing safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Woore Kim, Hongjun Cho, Sangwook Hong
  • Publication number: 20200270793
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clothing treatment apparatus comprising: a cabinet forming the exterior of the clothing treatment apparatus and provided with a door; a tub including a tub body for accommodating clothing and a tub opening in a front side thereof; a drum rotatably disposed within the tub and including a drum opening in a front side thereof; an air circulation duct including an air inlet communicating with an upper end of the tub opening, an air outlet communicating with the tub body, and a fan generating air flow inside the tub; and a guider that communicates with the air inlet and guides the air to the drum opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Woore KIM, Sangwook HONG
  • Publication number: 20200224350
    Abstract: An object treating apparatus includes a tub, a rotatable drum for receiving an object, an induction heater for heating an outer circumferential face of the drum, a motor for rotating the drum, an upper temperature sensor, a lower temperature sensor, and a processor. The upper temperature sensor detects a temperature of a space between the tub and the drum. The upper temperature sensor is disposed inside the tube at an upper portion of the tub. The lower temperature sensor detects a temperature around condensed water at a bottom of the tub. The lower temperature sensor is disposed inside the tub at a lower portion of the tub. The processor can determine a drying ending timing based on the temperatures detected by the upper and lower temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Woore KIM, Beomjun KIM, Sangwook HONG
  • Publication number: 20200217007
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus for treating laundry with an induction heater and controlling method thereof. In a laundry treating apparatus including an induction heater, the present invention includes a first step of setting a normal dry mode and an abnormal dry mode for controlling the induction heater with a output relatively lower than that of the normal dry mode, a second step of operating the induction heater in the normal dry mode, a third step of determining whether a dry load is a normal load or an abnormal load using at least one of a temperature of a drum and a current of a motor, and a fourth step of if the dry load is determined as the abnormal load, controlling the induction heater in the abnormal dry mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Woore KIM, Changoh KIM, Sangwook HONG
  • Publication number: 20200208327
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a laundry machine. More particularly, a laundry machine for generating steam by an induction heater and a control method thereof are disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, provided is a method of controlling a laundry machine including a tub, a drum rotatably arranged in the tub to accommodate an object and provided with a through hole on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and an induction heater provided to the tub, and configured to perform a steam operation. The steam operation may include heating a heating surface of the drum facing the induction heater by driving the induction heater, spraying, through a spray nozzle, water toward the heating surface heated in the heating operation, and rotating the drum such that the steam is introduced into the drum through the through hole in a space between the tub and the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Sangwook HONG, Woore KIM, Beomjun KIM, Hyunwoo NOH
  • Publication number: 20200208321
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a laundry machine. More particularly, a laundry machine for generating steam by an induction heater and a control method thereof are disclosed. According to an embodiment, the laundry machine may include a tub, a drum rotatably arranged in the tub to accommodate an object and provided with a through hole on an outer circumferential surface, an induction heater provided to the tub and configured to heat a heating surface of the drum opposing the induction heater on an outer surface of the drum, a motor driven to rotate the drum, a spray nozzle configured to spray water onto the heating surface of the drum opposing and heated by the induction heater to generate steam, and a processor configured to rotate the drum such that the steam is introduced into the drum through the through hole of the drum in a space between the tub and the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Sangwook HONG, Woore KIM, Changoh KIM
  • Publication number: 20200190727
    Abstract: Disclosed are an object treating apparatus, and more particularly, an object treating apparatus for heating a drum using an induction heater and a control method thereof. The object treating apparatus includes a tub; a drum rotatably disposed within the tub and accommodating an object therein; an induction heater disposed on the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential face of the drum contacting the heater; a motor to rotate the drum; and a processor configured to control an operation of the induction heater to dry the object, wherein the processor is configured to control revolution per minute (RPM) of the drum to perform at least three drum motions having at least three different target RPMs respectively when drying the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Woore KIM, Sangwook HONG
  • Publication number: 20200149207
    Abstract: A laundry apparatus includes a drum rotatable on a shaft and including at least one predetermined region made of metal; a tub surrounding the drum; an inductor provided on the tub and heating the drum by generating an electromagnetic field; and an air passage duct including a first duct provided as a passage for exhausting air outside the tub, a second duct provided as a passage for sucking air into the tub, and a fan for generating air flow, wherein the air drawn into the tub via the second duct is supplied to an internal space of the drum via a penetrating hole provided in a circumferential surface of the drum by the fan and then exhausted to the first duct after passing through a drum opening provided in a front portion of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Woore KIM, Hyunwoo NOH, Sangwook HONG
  • Publication number: 20200131690
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus. The present invention includes a cabinet, a tub provided within the cabinet, a drum provided within the tub to receive a treatment target therein, the drum made of metallic material, an induction module provided to the tub to heat the drum by induction, an infrared sensor provided to the tub to measure a temperature of the drum, and a barrel lens connected to the infrared sensor so that thermal radiation radiated from the drum enters the barrel lens, wherein the barrel lens includes a guide portion guiding vertically incident thermal radiation to the infrared sensor only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Woore KIM, Beomjun KIM, Sangwook HONG
  • Patent number: 10590588
    Abstract: A laundry apparatus includes a drum rotatable on a shaft and including at least one predetermined region made of metal; a tub surrounding the drum; an inductor provided on the tub and heating the drum by generating an electromagnetic field; and an air passage duct including a first duct provided as a passage for exhausting air outside the tub, a second duct provided as a passage for sucking air into the tub, and a fan for generating air flow, wherein the air drawn into the tub via the second duct is supplied to an internal space of the drum via a penetrating hole provided in a circumferential surface of the drum by the fan and then exhausted to the first duct after passing through a drum opening provided in a front portion of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woore Kim, Hyunwoo Noh, Sangwook Hong
  • Publication number: 20200048816
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry care apparatus in which an induction module heats the drum uniformly using a magnetic field to dry laundry or heat wash-water, and center and front and rear regions of the drum are uniformly heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Beomjun KIM, Sangwook HONG, Woore KIM, Hongjun CHO