Dishwasher providing notification for replacing filter and method of providing a notification for replacing a filter

1 . A dishwasher comprising:

a tub that defines a wash space therein;

a door configured to open and close the wash space;

a dry air supply part comprising an air blowing fan and a filter;

a non-transitory memory; and

a processor configured to control operation of the dishwasher,

wherein the processor is configured to:

accumulate, in the non-transitory memory, (i) an operation time for which the air blowing fan operates and (ii) a number of times of a drying process based on operation of the air blowing fan,

perform (i) a comparison of a total accumulative operation time of the air blowing fan accumulated in the non-transitory memory based on the operation of the air blowing fan with a predetermined first time and (ii) a comparison of the number of times of the drying process with a number of predetermined times,

output at least one of an optical signal or an acoustic signal to notify a user to replace the filter based on at least one of (i) the total accumulative operation time being greater than or equal to the predetermined first time or (ii) the number of times of the drying process being greater than or equal to the predetermined times, and

based on the filter being replaced, initialize the total accumulative operation time and the number of times of the drying process, and stop outputting the at least one of the optical signal or the acoustic signal.

2 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein when identifying that the dishwasher is currently performing the drying process based on the dry air supply part, the processor is configured to output the at least one of the optical signal or the acoustic signal to the user, during the drying process.

3 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the dishwasher further comprises a display,

wherein the display is configured to indicate a notification for replacing the filter when the dishwasher is currently performing the drying process.

4 . The dishwasher of claim 3 , wherein the display is configured to indicate the notification when the dishwasher is currently performing another process including a cleaning process and a ringing process, or when the dishwasher is operating the air blowing fan.

5 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein when the total accumulative operation time is less than the predetermined first time, the processor is configured to keep a notification in an off mode.

6 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

detect an initialization signal of the total accumulative operation time from the user; and

initialize the total accumulative operation time in the non-transitory memory, based on a detection of the initialization signal.

7 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

drive a timer, as the air blowing fan starts to operate;

calculate the operation time of the air blowing fan based on a driven time of the timer, as the air blowing fan stops operating;

add the calculated operation time to the total accumulative operation time stored in the non-transitory memory; and

store the added total accumulative operation time in the non-transitory memory.

8 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , further comprising a speaker,

wherein the processor is configured to control the speaker to output a notification for replacing the filter through the speaker.

9 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , further comprising a communication device,

wherein the processor is configured to transmit information for replacing of the filter to at least one mobile terminal through the communication device when the total accumulative operation time is the predetermined first time or greater.

10 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to, in a state where the total accumulative operation time is greater than or equal to the predetermined first time, control a display to output a notification in a different manner, depending on (i) a case in which the dishwasher is currently performing a drying process that is based on an operation of the air blowing fan, or (ii) a case in which the dishwasher is current performing a procedure that is not based on an operation of the air blowing fan.

11 . The dishwasher of claim 1 , wherein the dry air supply part further comprises a tub connection duct connected to a filter replacement hole of the tub.

12 . A dishwasher, comprising:

a dry air supply part comprising an air blowing fan and a filter;

a communication device;

a non-transitory memory; and

a processor configured to control operation of the dishwasher,

wherein the processor is configured to:

accumulate, in the non-transitory memory, (i) an operation time for which the air blowing fan operates and (ii) a number of times of a drying process based on operation of the air blowing fan,

perform (i) a comparison of a total accumulative operation time of the air blowing fan accumulated in the non-transitory memory based on the operation of the air blowing fan to a with a predetermined first time and (ii) a comparison of the number of times of the drying process with a number of predetermined times,

output at least one of an optical signal or an acoustic signal to notify a user to replace the filter based on at least one of (i) the total accumulative operation time being greater than or equal to the predetermined first time or (ii) the number of times of the drying process being greater than or equal to the predetermined times, and

based on the filter being replaced, initialize the total accumulative operation time and the number of times of the drying process, and stop outputting the at least one of the optical signal or the acoustic signal.

13 . The dishwasher of claim 12 , further comprising a display,

wherein the processor is configured to control the display to display the optical signal in red based on an increase of an accumulated number of operation times of the air blowing fan.

14 . The dishwasher of claim 12 , further comprising a display,

wherein the processor is configured to stop outputting the at least one of the optical signal or the acoustic signal based on receiving, from at least one mobile terminal, a signal indicating at least one of (i) initialization of a total operation period of the air blowing fan, (ii) initialization of the accumulated number of the operation times, or (iii) cancelation of a notification for replacing the filter.

15 . A method for providing a notification for replacing a filter of a dishwasher, the method comprising:

accumulating (i) an operation time for which an air blowing fan operates and (ii) a number of times of a drying process based on operation of the air blowing fan;

performing (i) a comparison of a total accumulative operation time of the air blowing fan accumulated based on the operation of the air blowing fan with a predetermined first time and (ii) a comparison of the number of times of the drying process with a number of predetermined times;

outputting at least one of an optical signal or an acoustic signal to notify a user to replace the filter based on at least one of (i) the total accumulative operation time being greater than or equal to the predetermined first time or (ii) the number of times of the drying process being greater than or equal to the predetermined time; and

based on the filter being replaced, initializing the total accumulative operation time and the number of times of the drying process, and stopping output of the at least one of the optical signal or the acoustic signal.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein outputting the at least one of the optical signal or the acoustic signal comprises:

outputting the at least one of the optical signal or the acoustic signal to the user, during the drying process.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein outputting the at least one of the optical signal or the acoustic signal comprises:

keeping the notification in an off mode.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein outputting the at least one of the optical signal or the acoustic signal comprises:

transmitting the notification for replacing the filter to at least one mobile terminal.