JP2010119417A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and accurately detect inclined installation of a washing machine by using a semiconductor-type acceleration sensor. <P>SOLUTION: The washing machine includes: a water tub 3 rotatably housing a rotating drum 1 receiving laundry and resiliently supported in a washing machine body 9; a driving motor 5 for the rotating drum 1; an acceleration-detecting section 15 fixed to the water tub 3; and a control section 17 for performing the operation of washing, rinsing, spin-drying, or the like. The acceleration-detecting section 15 includes a semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a for orthogonal two or three axes, and a nonvolatile memory 15b for storing correction amounts for the semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a, thereby correction amounts for the sensor are stored in the acceleration-detecting section 15 before the acceleration-detecting section is incorporated into the washing machine. Therefore, the acceleration-detecting section being practical is obtained to detect the vibration or attitude of the washing machine without large-scaled facility investment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to acceleration detection means for detecting vibrations and postures of a fully automatic washing machine.

  Conventionally, as a method of detecting the vibration of the rotating drum in this type of washing machine, a method of detecting by attaching an acceleration sensor to a water tank has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a conventional washing machine described in Patent Document 1.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the horizontal-axis drum-type washing machine 50 has an outer box 52 fixed on a base plate 51, and a water tank 53 is elastically supported by a plurality of elastic support mechanisms 54 inside the outer box 52. The The elastic support mechanism 54 includes a damper 55 and a suspension spring 56, and supports the water tank 53 in a swingable manner.

  A rotating drum 57, which is a washing and dewatering tub for putting washing clothes inward, is rotatably supported inside the water tank 53 and is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown).

  During the dehydration process, if the clothes are rotated in an unbalanced state in the rotating drum 57, the water tank 53 swings greatly, and collides with the inner wall of the outer box 52, or a large load acts on the connecting portion of the structure. The problem occurs. In order to prevent these problems, the acceleration sensor 59 is fixed to the side plate 58 of the water tank 53, and the vibration state is grasped by detecting the acceleration of the water tank 53. Control is performed to loosen the imbalance of clothes inside the rotary drum 57.

  The acceleration sensor 59 has a configuration capable of three-dimensional detection having three detection axes X (front and rear of the water tank), Y (left and right), and Z (up and down) orthogonal to each other.

  The acceleration sensor 59 is configured by using, for example, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) as a semiconductor type acceleration sensor. A weight is supported by a beam, and a piezoresistor is formed on the beam. When acceleration (inertial force) is applied, the beam supporting the weight is deformed, and the acceleration is detected by the change in the resistance value of the piezoresistive element formed on the surface (in addition to the piezoresistor, the weight and electrode There is also a semiconductor type acceleration sensor that detects acceleration by a change in capacitance between the electrode and the fixed electrode.

  This type of sensor output is taken from the output of a Wheatstone bridge that is incorporated independently for each detection axis. It is known that the DC component of acceleration can also be detected, so that gravitational acceleration can be detected and used as a tilt angle sensor in a product installation state or holding state (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ).

  FIG. 11 shows a configuration example of a fall detection device for a portable wireless device using the conventional acceleration sensor described in Patent Document 2.

  11, the fall detection device 60 includes an acceleration sensor 61, a data acquisition unit 62, a data holding unit 63, a fall detection axis setting unit 64, a fall detection axis detection value calculation unit 65, a fall determination unit 66, and a fall notification. The output unit 67 is configured.

When the portable wireless device 68 receives a fall notification output as a signal from the acceleration sensor 61, the portable wireless device 68 issues a notification to a preset wireless device at a predetermined frequency, and the holder of the portable wireless device 68 falls. Notify that it has been determined.
JP 2006-346270 A JP 2008-32521 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, when the inclination is larger than expected in the installed state of the washing machine, there is a problem in that abnormal vibration during dehydration and accurate water level detection cannot be performed.

  As mentioned above, it is possible to detect the installation inclination of a washing machine using a semiconductor type acceleration sensor, but in fact the semiconductor type acceleration sensor slightly deviates from the zero point even when no acceleration is generated. Since each individual has a “variation element” that produces an output, it is necessary to perform correction when the acceleration is zero in order to accurately detect the inclination of the installation.

As the correction method, correction can be made by recording the output in a state where the acceleration axis of the acceleration sensor is not subjected to gravity and the acceleration is set to zero. At this time, the detection axis Z is used as the vertical direction. In this case, it is necessary to check the output of the detection axis Z in advance so that the detection axis Z is horizontal (acceleration zero point) so that gravity is not applied to the detection axis Z.
Unlike products that allow hand carry, such as portable wireless devices, to perform such work for each product after assembling an acceleration sensor in a washing machine with a large form, the washing machine itself must be finely positioned. There was a problem that large-scale equipment to adjust and set was required, and it was not realistic including productivity.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention stores the correction amount of each sensor in the acceleration detection means before assembling the acceleration sensor in the washing machine, not the large-scale equipment as described above. Therefore, it is intended to realize highly accurate tilt angle detection with easy production means.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the washing machine according to the present invention includes a water tank that rotatably includes a rotating drum that houses laundry, and is elastically supported in the washing machine body, and is fixed to the water tank. Acceleration detection means and control means for executing each operation such as washing, rinsing, dehydration, etc., and the acceleration detection means includes an orthogonal biaxial or triaxial semiconductor acceleration sensor and an offset correction amount of the semiconductor acceleration sensor. Built-in nonvolatile memory.

  As a result, the correction amount of each sensor can be stored in the acceleration detection means before the acceleration detection means is assembled to the washing machine. An acceleration detecting means for detecting the posture can be obtained.

  According to the detection means of the washing machine of the present invention, the detection accuracy of whether the inclination is larger than expected in the installation state of the washing machine is improved, and it is possible to correctly notify the user of the installation state.

A first aspect of the present invention is a rotary drum that accommodates laundry and has a rotation center shaft, a water tank that rotatably includes the rotary drum and elastically supported in the washing machine body, and rotationally drives the rotary drum. A driving motor; acceleration detecting means fixed to the water tank; and control means for executing operations such as washing, rinsing, dehydration, etc., wherein the acceleration detecting means includes an orthogonal two-axis or three-axis semiconductor acceleration sensor; By incorporating a nonvolatile memory that stores the correction amount of the semiconductor acceleration sensor, the correction amount of each sensor can be stored in the acceleration detection means before the acceleration sensor is assembled to the washing machine. There is no need for large-scale capital investment, and it is possible to obtain acceleration detecting means for detecting vibration and posture of a washing machine with high practicality.

  The second invention has a function of converting the detected acceleration of two or three orthogonal axes into digital data, and a function of transmitting the data to the outside by serial communication, in particular, the acceleration detecting means of the first invention. By connecting the semiconductor acceleration sensor and the non-volatile memory for storing the offset correction amount of the semiconductor acceleration sensor to a microcomputer built in the control means with a common signal line, the number of wires connected between the control device and the acceleration detection means Can be configured at a low cost with a minimum.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Components having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a block circuit diagram of the washing machine in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the washing machine, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of acceleration detection means of the washing machine, 4 is a block circuit diagram of the acceleration detection means of the washing machine, FIG. 5 is a diagram in the case of horizontal installation of gravity acceleration detection by the acceleration detection means of the washing machine, and FIG. 6 is the acceleration of the washing machine. FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the input setting means and display means of the washing machine, and FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of horizontal state detection detection of the washing machine. .

  As shown in the longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 2, the rotating drum 1 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape and has a large number of water passage holes 2 on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and is rotatably disposed in the water receiving tank 3. is doing. A rotation axis (rotation center axis) 4 is provided in a substantially inclined direction at the rotation center of the rotary drum 1, and the axial center direction of the rotary drum 1 is disposed so as to be inclined downward by, for example, 20 degrees from the front side toward the back side. It constitutes a diagonal drum.

  A motor 5 attached to the back surface of the water receiving tank 3 is connected to the rotating shaft 4 to drive the rotating drum 1 to rotate in the forward and reverse directions. Several protrusion plates 6 for stirring clothes are provided on the inner wall surface of the rotating drum 1.

  The opening provided in the upward inclined surface on the front side of the water receiving tub 3 is covered with a lid 7 so that it can be opened and closed. By opening the lid 7, the laundry is put into and out of the rotary drum 1 through the clothing entrance 8.

  The water receiving tub 3 is suspended from the washing machine main body 9 by a spring body (not shown) so as to be swingable. One end of the drainage passage 10 is connected to the lower portion of the water receiving tub 3 and the other end of the drainage passage 10 is connected to the water receiving tub 3. The washing water in the water receiving tank 3 is drained by connecting to the drain valve 11. The water supply valve 12 supplies water into the water receiving tank 3 through the water supply path 13.

  Two height adjusting functions 14 are attached to both ends of the washing machine main body 9 so that the main body height can be adjusted. The height adjusting function 14 has a screw attached to the object itself, and is attached to the washing machine main body 9 via the screw. For example, when it is turned clockwise, the height is lowered, and it is turned counterclockwise. Then, the height is lowered, and thus the height of the washing machine body 9 can be adjusted and installed horizontally.

The control device 16 controls a series of processes such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration, and the washing machine body 9
The signal is transmitted to the input setting means 18 and the display means 19 arranged in front of the top of the screen.

  The acceleration detecting means 15 is fixed to the upper surface of the water tank 3.

  As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 1, the control device 16 controls the operation of the motor 5, the drain valve 11, the water supply valve 12, etc., and the microcomputer 29 that sequentially controls a series of steps of washing, rinsing and dehydration. Control means 17 is provided. The control means 17 inputs information from the input setting means 18 for setting the driving course and the like, and displays the information on the display means 19 based on the information to notify the user, and starts the operation by the input setting means 18. Is set, the switching means 21 is controlled via the switching means drive circuit 20, the operations of the drain valve 11, the water supply valve 12, etc. are controlled, and the washing operation is performed.

  At this time, the control means 17 controls the rotation of the motor 5 by controlling the inverter 24 via the inverter drive circuit 23 based on the information from the position detection means 22 for detecting the position of the rotor of the motor 5. ing. Although the motor 5 is a direct current brushless motor, although not shown, it is composed of a stator having a three-phase winding and a rotor having a two-pole permanent magnet disposed on the ring, and the stator has a three-phase winding. The first winding 5a, the second winding 5b, and the third winding 5c to be configured are wound around an iron core provided in a slot.

  The inverter 24 is constituted by a switching element composed of a parallel circuit of a power transistor (IGBT) and a reverse conducting diode. A series circuit of a first switching element 24a and a second switching element 24b, a series circuit of a third switching element 24c and a fourth switching element 24d, and a fifth switching element 24e and a sixth switching element 24f A series circuit is configured, and the series circuit of each switching element is connected in parallel.

  Here, both ends of the series circuit of the switching elements are input terminals, connected to a DC power source, and output terminals are respectively connected to connection points of two switching elements constituting the series circuit of the switching elements. The output terminal is connected to the U terminal, V terminal, and W terminal of the three-phase winding, and the U terminal, V terminal, and W terminal are connected by the on / off combination of two switching elements constituting the series circuit of the switching element. The three states are positive voltage, zero voltage, and release, respectively.

  On / off of the switching element is controlled by the control means 17 based on information from the three position detection means 22a, 22b, and 22c made of the Hall IC. The position detection means 22a, 22b, and 22c are arranged on the stator so as to face the permanent magnet of the rotor at an electrical angle of 120 degrees.

  During one rotation of the rotor, the three position detecting means 22a, 22b, and 22c each output a pulse at an electrical angle of 120 degrees. The control unit 17 detects when the signal state of any of the three position detection units 22a, 22b, and 22c changes, and based on the signals of the position detection units 22a, 22b, and 22c, the switching elements 24a to 24f. By changing the on / off state, the U terminal, the V terminal, and the W terminal are brought into three states of positive voltage, zero voltage, and release, and the first winding 5a, the second winding 5b, and the third winding of the stator. The coil 5c is energized to create a magnetic field and rotate the rotor.

  The switching elements 24a, 24c, and 24e are each controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM). For example, the rotational speed of the rotor is controlled by controlling the energization ratio of high and low at a repetition frequency of 10 kHz. The control means 17 detects the cycle each time the signal state of any of the three position detection means 22a, 22b, 22c changes, calculates the rotor rotation speed based on the cycle, and sets it to the set rotation speed. The switching elements 24a, 24c, and 24e are PWM-controlled.

  The commercial power supply 25 is connected to the inverter 24 via a direct current power converter comprising a diode bridge 26, a choke coil 27, and a smoothing capacitor 28. However, this is an example, and the configuration of the DC brushless motor 5, the configuration of the inverter 24, and the like are not limited thereto.

  The storage means 30 is composed of a non-volatile memory or the like in which the stored contents are not lost even if power is not supplied, and can store the operation setting contents, the number of times of operation, and the like. The memory 15b has a different purpose.

  As shown in the enlarged front view of FIG. 7, the input setting means 18 includes a washing time setting switch 18a for setting the washing time, a rinsing frequency setting switch 18b for setting the rinsing frequency, a dehydration time setting switch 18c for setting the dehydration time, A course setting switch 18d, a start / pause switch 18e, a power-on switch 18f, and a power-off switch 18g are included.

  Here, unlike the operation during normal use, if another switch (washing time setting switch 18a) is pressed when turning on the power switch 18f, the control means 17 installs the washing machine at the time of purchase. In the work, a special operation mode for checking the installation state for determining whether the washing machine is correctly installed or a special operation mode for product inspection in the factory is set.

  The display unit 19 includes a washing time display unit 19a, a rinse count display unit 19b, a dehydration time display unit 19c, a course setting display unit 19d, a remaining time display unit 19e, a number display unit 19f, and the like.

  The position detecting means 22 detects the position of the rotor of the motor 5 and outputs four pulses while the rotating drum 1 rotates once by the rotation of the rotor (in this embodiment, the rotation of the rotating drum 1). Since the number of motors 5 and the number of rotations of the motor 5 are the same, four pulses are output while the motor 5 makes one rotation), and the rotation of the motor 5 can be detected by this output pulse. Alternatively, it can function as a rotation detection means for detecting the rotation state of the motor 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the acceleration detection unit 15 is configured to detect a semiconductor acceleration sensor 15 a that can detect accelerations in the three directions of the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis that are orthogonal to each other, and an offset correction amount of the semiconductor acceleration sensor. It comprises a nonvolatile memory 15b for storing, an electric wire 15c connecting the acceleration detecting means 15 and the control means 17, and a substrate 15d for electrically connecting them and mechanically fixing them.

  Here, since the semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a outputs accelerations in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions as independent analog voltages, the control means is input to a terminal incorporating an A / D conversion circuit, These are converted into digital signals and internally processed.

  Moreover, the acceleration detection means 15 is attached to the upper part of the water receiving tank 3, and mainly detects the vibration of the water receiving tank 3 or the washing machine main body 9 at the time of dehydration. The X axis detects the longitudinal direction of the water receiving tank 3, the Y axis detects the lateral direction of the water receiving tank 3, and the Z axis detects the acceleration in the direction perpendicular to the water receiving tank 3.

  The configuration of gravity acceleration detection will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the washing machine main body is installed horizontally with respect to the ground (that is, the floor surface), accelerations such as those shown in FIG. 5 are applied to the X, Y, and Z axes, and the acceleration detecting means 15 generates three-axis acceleration. Detect each. Since gravitational acceleration of 9.8 m / s2 works in the vertical direction, when the rotating drum 1 is disposed as a slanted drum at an angle of 20 °, 9.8 × cos 20 ° m / s2 in the Z-axis direction. In the X axis direction, an acceleration of 9.8 × sin 20 ° m / s 2 works. Since the Y axis is perpendicular to the gravitational acceleration, the acceleration is zero.

  Therefore, when the washing machine body is installed to be tilted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction with respect to the ground (that is, the floor surface), acceleration different from that described above acts on each of the three axes. Can be detected.

  As shown in FIG. 6, for example, α ° is tilted in the front-rear direction (when the front side is higher than the back side and tilted by α °), and β ° is tilted in the left-right direction (right side is the left side when viewed from the front side). When tilted, the tilt angles α ° and β ° can be detected from the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis detected accelerations, gx1, gy1, and gz1, respectively. it can.

  Here, the relationship of Formula 1 holds in the front-rear direction (X-axis, Z-axis), and Formula 2 holds in the left-right direction (Y-axis).

  By obtaining the values of the accelerations gx1, gy1, and gz1 detected by the acceleration detecting means 15 using Equations 1 and 2, the longitudinal inclination α ° and the horizontal inclination β ° of the washing machine body can be obtained.

  The operation and action of the acceleration detecting means 15 and the control means 17 of the washing machine configured as described above will be described below.

  The control means 17 determines the special operation mode for checking the installation state or the product in the factory according to the setting state of the input setting means 18 (for example, the power-on switch 18g is turned on while the washing time setting switch 18a is turned on). The special operation mode for inspection is set.

  The special operation mode for checking the installation state is that tap water is supplied to the water supply valve 12 from the water tap (whether the water supply valve 12 to the water tap is correctly connected via the water supply hose, In this state, the washing tap is mainly used in the operation for checking whether the water tap is open) and for checking whether the drain valve 11 is in a state where it can be drained correctly through the drain hose. This is a special operation mode that is performed when the first installation is performed.

  Further, in this special operation mode, an operation mode for confirming whether the washing machine main body is installed horizontally is provided. In this operation mode, it is detected whether the washing machine body is placed horizontally by the acceleration in the triaxial direction detected by the acceleration detection means 15, and if it is detected that the washing machine body is not placed horizontally, the display means 19 or the like is displayed. Use and display that effect.

  The special operation mode for product inspection in a factory is an operation monitor provided so that it can be easily confirmed in a short time whether the product has been assembled correctly after the product is assembled in the factory.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The operation is started at step 60 in FIG. 8, the power-on switch 18g is turned on at step 61, and data from the nonvolatile memory 15b of the acceleration detecting means 15 is input at step 74. This data is a zero point correction value of a semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a described later.

  Almost simultaneously with step 74, if the washing switch (washing time setting switch) 18a is turned on at step 62, the routine proceeds to step 63 where an operation mode for installation confirmation is set.

  The operation mode for checking the installation is to check whether tap water is supplied from the tap to the water supply valve 12, and the drain valve 11 can be drained correctly through the drain hose. This is a special operation mode that is performed when the washing machine is purchased and installed for the first time.

  As an operation, the water supply valve 12 is driven by the control means 17 for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) to supply washing water into the water receiving tub 3, and at this time, the water level in the water receiving tub 3 is detected (water level detection). The means is not shown), and it is determined whether the water has been supplied correctly depending on whether or not the predetermined water level has been reached.

  Further, after the water supply, all the operations are suspended for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute), and it is detected whether the water level in the water receiving tank 3 has changed. This purpose is an operation for detecting whether or not water leakage has occurred for some reason. If the water level is lowered, it can be determined that water leakage has occurred.

  Then, the drain valve 11 is driven by the control means 17 to drain the washing water in the water receiving tub 3 out of the washing machine main body. After a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes), it is determined whether there is no problem in the drainage path based on whether all the washing water is drained outside the machine.

  In addition to the operation mode for checking whether the water supply and drainage are correctly operated during installation as described above, an operation mode for detecting whether the washing machine main body 9 is correctly installed on the floor surface is provided. As described above, the inclination of the product is detected from the X-axis / Y-axis / Z-axis acceleration values detected by the acceleration detection means 15.

  If it is determined in step 62 that the washing switch has not been pressed, the routine proceeds to step 71 and a normal washing operation is performed.

  After step 63, next, in step 64, it is set which operation in the operation mode for installation confirmation is performed. For example, the selection is made by pressing the rinse number setting switch 18b.

  In step 65, the start / pause switch 18e is pressed to start the operation in the selected operation mode.

  If it is determined in step 66 that the operation mode for confirming whether the washing machine main body is set to be horizontal is selected, the process proceeds to step 67 and the subsequent steps are performed. If it is determined in step 66 that the other operation mode has been selected, the process proceeds to step 72 to perform the water supply confirmation operation and the drainage confirmation operation as described above.

  In the operation mode for checking whether the washing machine main body is installed horizontally, in step 67, the acceleration data g1x, g1y, g1z detected by the acceleration detection means 15 is input to the control means 17. To do.

In step 68, it is determined from this acceleration data whether the washing machine body is installed horizontally. The determination is made by adding the zero point correction value of the semiconductor acceleration sensor read in step 74 at the time of this determination.

  Although not shown, if it is necessary to increase the accuracy during the normal washing operation, each determination is similarly performed by adding the zero point correction value of the semiconductor acceleration sensor.

  As described above, when the washing machine main body is installed horizontally with respect to the ground (that is, the floor surface), the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis have acceleration as shown in FIG. Each of the three axes of acceleration is detected.

  Since gravitational acceleration 9.8 m / s2 works in the vertical direction, in the case of the rotating drum 1, that is, an oblique drum whose water tank is tilted by 20 °, an acceleration of 9.8 × cos 20 ° m / s2 in the Z-axis direction, In the X-axis direction, an acceleration of 9.8 × sin 20 ° m / s 2 works. Since the Y axis is perpendicular to the gravitational acceleration, the acceleration is zero.

  When the washing machine body is installed to be tilted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction with respect to the ground (that is, the floor surface), the accelerations different from those described above are applied to each of the three axes. be able to.

  If the inclination α ° in the front-rear direction and the inclination β ° in the left-right direction are obtained based on the above-described Equations 1 and 2, if this angle is within the horizontal tolerance angle, It is judged. The allowable range angle is, for example, an angle that is ± 1 ° and does not affect dehydration vibration if the inclination is within the range.

  When the dehydration operation is performed in a state of being inclined more than the allowable range, the gap between the water receiving tub 3 and the washing machine main body 9 becomes narrow, and even with some vibrations, the water receiving tub 3 and the washing machine main body 9 collide, Abnormal noise may be generated. Further, the position of the center of gravity of the water receiving tank 3 or the like is shifted, the balance is deteriorated, and the dehydration vibration may be increased.

  If it is determined in step 69 that the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are within the allowable angle, it is determined that there is no problem, and the process proceeds to step 70 to end the operation mode for installation confirmation. If either the front-rear direction or the left-right direction is outside the allowable range, it is determined that the apparatus is not installed horizontally, and the process proceeds to step 73 so that the display means 19 or the like notifies the installer or the user of this fact. To do.

  The operation and action of the detection method of the acceleration detecting means configured as described above will be described below.

  Here, in the inspection process of the washing machine production factory, a place where the floor surface is horizontal on the ground is created, and the X-axis / Y-axis / Z-axis data detected by the acceleration detecting means 15 is controlled by the control means 16 at this place. There is a method of storing in the storage means 30. Since the floor surface is horizontal, the washing machine body 9 is also placed horizontally, and the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis detection data detected by the acceleration detection means 15 is also detected in the horizontal state as described above. Can be expected. However, in reality, the ideal zero point data cannot be measured due to variations in the zero point of the acceleration detecting means 15 main body, the accuracy of attachment to the water receiving tank 3, the inclination of the water receiving tank, etc. Cases arise and large facilities are required.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the acceleration detection means 15 having the nonvolatile memory 15b is built in, and before the assembly is installed in the washing machine, the single acceleration detection means 15 is installed on the horizontal plane and the semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a. The Z-axis is set in exactly the same direction as the gravitational acceleration, and the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis data at that time are read by a separately prepared inspection device, and this value is written to the nonvolatile memory 15b.

  As a result, the zero-point correction value is stored in the single acceleration detection means 15, so that even if there is a variation in mounting, referring to the data in the nonvolatile memory 15 b stored in the means after being assembled in the washing machine. The correct amount of correction in the direction of gravitational acceleration can be obtained, and work can be performed more easily than when the washing machine is installed horizontally and zero point correction is performed.

  Further, a method of using gravitational acceleration is generally considered as a method for correcting the acceleration absolute value, and the data of the semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a when the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are installed in the same direction as the gravitational acceleration is considered. While reading with the inspection apparatus prepared separately, this value is written in the non-volatile memory 15b. As a result, the correction value for the gravity 1G is stored by the single acceleration detection means 15, so that it can be used as a correction amount for more accurate detection.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the acceleration detecting unit 15 includes the two-axis or three-axis semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a orthogonal to each other and the nonvolatile memory 15b that stores the correction amount of the semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a. Therefore, since the installation inclination is detected by storing the individual correction amounts of the sensor in the acceleration detection means 15 before the acceleration detection means 15 is assembled to the washing machine, a large facility is required for detection of the installation state. It is possible to obtain an acceleration detecting means that detects vibrations and postures of a washing machine, which requires no investment and is highly practical.

  In the first embodiment, the rotation shaft 4 is provided in a substantially inclined direction at the center of rotation of the rotary drum 1, and the axial center direction of the rotary drum 1 is inclined downward from the front side to the back side. However, the same effect can be obtained even in a washing machine in which the rotating shaft 4 is provided in the substantially horizontal direction at the rotation center of the rotating drum 1 and the axial center direction of the rotating drum 1 is configured in the substantially horizontal direction. is there.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9 is a block circuit diagram of the acceleration detecting means according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 9, the acceleration detection means 15 includes a semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a ′ and a nonvolatile memory 15b, an acceleration detection means 15 and a control means 17 that are capable of detecting accelerations in three orthogonal directions of X axis, Y axis, and Z axis. A common signal line 15c ′ for connecting the built-in microcomputer 29 and a substrate 15d ′ for electrically connecting them and mechanically fixing them are configured.

  Here, the semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a ′ includes an acceleration detection unit 15e that outputs accelerations in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions as independent analog voltages, and an A / D unit that digitally converts these analog voltages. 15 f and 15 g of an I / F unit that communicates with the outside by serial communication or the like in order to output digitized data or receive a control signal of internal operation.

  The non-volatile memory 15b generally has CS, CLK, and DATA terminals for communication of stored data. The semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a 'has the same configuration.

  The CS terminal enables the operation of each IC and is connected individually. The DATA terminal passes data and control signals between the microcomputer 29 and each IC. The CLK terminal outputs a clock signal from the microcomputer 29 for synchronizing the data communication.

  Here, since the DATA terminal and the CLK terminal communicate with the semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a ′ and the nonvolatile memory 15b in a time division manner, they are connected to the microcomputer with the same electric wire, and the CS terminals are individually connected to the microcomputer. Then, data communication is performed with the IC enabled at the CS terminal.

  With the configuration as described above, the acceleration detecting means 15 is a semiconductor having a function of converting the detected orthogonal biaxial or triaxial acceleration into digital data and a function of transmitting this data to the outside by serial communication. The acceleration sensor 15a ′ and the nonvolatile memory 15b for storing the offset correction amount of the semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a ′ are connected to a microcomputer built in the control means 17 through a common signal line 15c ′. Since the number of signal wires is four and can be reduced by two compared to the configuration in which the DATA terminal and the CLK terminal are individually connected, the number of connecting wires between the control means 17 and the acceleration detection means 15 can be reduced and the structure can be reduced. .

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention is not a large-scale facility, and before assembling the acceleration sensor into the washing machine, the correction amount of each sensor is stored in the acceleration detection means, and the high-precision inclination is stored. Since corner detection can be provided with easy production means, the detection accuracy of whether the inclination is larger than expected in the installation state of the washing machine is improved, the installation state is correctly notified to the user, and abnormalities during dehydration Vibration can be prevented.

Block diagram of washing machine in embodiment 1 of the present invention Longitudinal section of the washing machine Schematic of acceleration detection means of the washing machine Block diagram of the acceleration detection means of the washing machine Figure of horizontal installation of gravity acceleration detection by acceleration detection means of the washing machine Figure of the case of inclination installation of gravity acceleration detection by the acceleration detection means of the washing machine Enlarged front view of input setting means and display means of the washing machine Operation flowchart of horizontal state detection of the washing machine Blocked circuit diagram of acceleration detection means in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Schematic longitudinal sectional view of a conventional washing machine Configuration example of a conventional wireless sensor overturn detection device using an acceleration sensor

Explanation of symbols

1 Rotating drum 3 Water tank 4 Rotating axis (Rotating center axis)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Drive motor 9 Washing machine main body 15 Acceleration detection means 15a Semiconductor acceleration sensor 15a 'Semiconductor acceleration sensor 15b Nonvolatile memory 15c' Common signal line 17 Control means 29 Microcomputer

Claims (2)

A rotating drum that contains laundry and has a rotation center shaft, a water tank that rotatably includes the rotating drum and elastically supported in the washing machine body, a drive motor that rotationally drives the rotating drum, and the water tank And a control means for executing a series of operations such as washing, rinsing and dehydration. The acceleration detecting means includes two or three orthogonal semiconductor acceleration sensors and the semiconductor acceleration sensor. Washing machine with a built-in nonvolatile memory for storing the offset correction amount. The acceleration detecting means includes a semiconductor acceleration sensor having a function of converting detected biaxial or triaxial acceleration into digital data, a function of transmitting the data to the outside through serial communication, and offset correction of the semiconductor acceleration sensor. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a nonvolatile memory for storing the quantity is connected to a microcomputer built in the control means by a common signal line.