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.

Abstract: A clothes dryer apparatus and system that reduces the buildup of electric charges within a dryer drum by introducing ions. The system monitors the voltage within the drum by taking measurements on voltage sensor assembly. The sensor assembly obtains a voltage when two areas of a fabric, or two separate items of the clothing, contact the sensor. If a threshold voltage is obtained, an ion generator introduces cations and anions into the drum of the dryer to neutralize the static charge of the clothing. The reduction of static electricity increases efficiency as the clothing items do not stick together which permits better heat flow and increases safety by reducing the amount of electrical charge within the drum.

Abstract: An expandable and collapsible enclosure is provided for a garment refreshing appliance. The appliance has at least either a top or a bottom rigid housing structure. The enclosure comprises a wall structure extending substantially an entire height of the enclosure. The wall structure is made of a flexible material. An opening is provided in the wall structure through which garments can be introduced into or removed from the enclosure. A zipper is attached at the opening to selectively open and close the opening. A snap attachment mechanism is located at either or both of the top and a bottom of the wall structure for securing the wall structure to the top and/or bottom rigid housing structures.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a clothes dryer having a dryness sensing device and method of use comprising at least two electrically conductive sensor bars placed closely together but not touching one another so that articles in the dryer can contact two of the sensor bars at the same time. At least one sensor bar is electrically connected to an electrical current source and at least one sensor bar is electrically connected to an electrical ground. A microcontroller is electrically connected between the electrical current source and the electrical ground so as to be capable of measuring the voltage across the sensor bars when the sensor bars are contacted by the articles being dried. The microcontroller is configured so as to determine the dryness of the articles by calculating the electrical resistance of the articles by using the value of the voltage across the sensor bars and the value of the current through the sensor bars.

Abstract: The electrical conductivity of laundry in a laundry drum is measured and the moisture content is determined from the measured quantity. A polarization voltage, which corrupts the measurement result, is formed at the electrodes. In order to compensate for this disturbing influence, as well as for other material and aging effects, the conductivity measurement is briefly interrupted and the polarization voltage which is present across the electrodes and has formed during the conductivity measurement is measured. The measured error voltage is used to compensate the laundry voltage measured during the previous conductivity measurement. This improves the determination of the conductivity, and thus of the moisture content, considerably. The method is particularly suitable for a microcontroller.