JP2019165928A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To calculate and display finish time of an operation by acquiring time from the Internet.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: a body housing; a washing tub provided in the body housing; a display device for displaying finish time of an operation; and a communication unit for performing communication by being connected to the Internet. By acquiring the time via the communication unit, the finish time of the operation is displayed in the display device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine having a function of displaying a driving end time.

  A conventional operation display device for a washing machine is mainly provided with an operation button for operating the display device adjacent to a display device in which a plurality of display portions for displaying an operation time and an operation state are combined.

  These display devices have a structure in which a display portion represented by printed characters or the like at a predetermined position of the display device and a light source unit such as an LED representing selection or operation are provided in pairs, and the display device is a liquid crystal display device What consists of is known.

  As the liquid crystal display device, a character display device in which display content is fixed and a dot matrix display device in which display content is not fixed are generally known. In washing machines, proposals have been made that employ the two display devices.

  Furthermore, when a dot matrix liquid crystal is employed in a display device, an operation display device is known in which an operation touch panel is combined with the upper surface of the display device.

  Modern washing machines can automatically drive a preset course by operating a start button, but many courses and detailed settings are possible in response to various needs. In recent large-scale washing machines, which have a drying function, an operation display unit for setting and displaying the operation is enlarged.

  Many of the display devices of these washing machines display the remaining time indicating how many hours and how many minutes are left during the washing or drying operation.

  Alternatively, as described in Patent Document 1, the time until the end of operation is displayed in the remaining time format of “how many hours and minutes” or the time format of the end time “what hours and minutes”. A washing machine has been devised in which the end time can be directly confirmed by providing a means for selecting or.

JP 2017-205144 A

In the washing machine of Patent Document 1, in order to display the time format of the end time of operation “what hour and minute”,
It is necessary to provide a clock function backed up by a battery such as a real-time clock in order for the user to set the current time and retain the set time even when the power is turned off.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a function of connecting to the Internet for communication and acquiring time from the Internet, thereby calculating and displaying a driving end time without mounting a clock function backed up by a battery. Is to provide a machine.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A main body housing, a washing tub provided in the main body housing, a display device that displays an operation end time, and a communication unit that communicates by connecting to the Internet, via the communication unit By obtaining the time, the end time of the operation is displayed on the display device.

  According to the present invention, the function of connecting to the Internet to perform communication is provided, and by obtaining the time from the Internet, it is possible to calculate and display the end time of the operation without mounting the clock function backed up by the battery. Can do.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the washing machine which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is an apparatus block diagram which shows the apparatus structure of the washing machine which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the operation display part of the washing machine which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a state display figure which shows one operation state of the operation display part of the washing machine which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state of the end time display during driving | operation of the washing machine which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the remaining time display format setting in the washing machine which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the end time display during a driving | operation in the washing machine which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is the figure which showed the remaining time display format setting screen in the washing machine which concerns on the Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the washing machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic structure of the washing machine according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an apparatus block diagram showing an apparatus configuration of the washing machine according to the present invention.

  First, a schematic structure of a washing machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the washing machine according to this embodiment includes a rotating drum (washing and dewatering tub) having a rotating shaft inclined substantially horizontally or several degrees to 20 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction at the front portion of the main body casing 10. This is a washing machine with a drying function, which has a drum-type structure provided with a clothing input port 11 and further has a drying function in the main body casing 10.

  The main body housing 10 of this washing machine has a rounded and compact exterior shape with a gently curved surface and continuous with the upper surface, and both side surfaces are provided with inclined surfaces on the front.

  In the center of the front surface of the main body housing 10, a circular clothing entry door 12 for taking clothes into and out of the internal rotating drum is provided. It can be opened, and the closed state can be maintained by a lock mechanism (not shown) by closing it manually.

  An operation display unit 100, a detergent tray unit 14, and a drying filter unit 15 are concentrated on the top of the clothing input door 12. The upper part of the front surface of the main body housing 10 where the operation display unit 100 and the like are centrally arranged is formed with an inclined surface 16 that is tilted backward. By arranging the operation display unit 100 and the like on the inclined surface 16, visibility is improved. And operability is improved.

  The operation display unit 100 disposed in the center of the inclined surface 16 includes a horizontally long display unit 110, a start button 202 disposed on the right side of the display unit 110, and a touch panel 51 combined on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display device 50. Consists of. In this embodiment, by operating the touch panel 51 and the start button 202, it is possible to instruct operation of the washing machine, and the operation instruction content is displayed on the display unit 110.

  In addition, on one side of the operation display unit 100, a detergent tray unit 14 having a drawer structure for introducing detergent is disposed. Further, on the other side of the operation display unit 100, a dry filter unit 15 for mounting a filter (not shown) attached to a dry duct (not shown) in the main body housing 10 is provided. The drying filter unit 15 has a drawer structure that can be taken in and out. In addition, a pair of power buttons 201 for turning the power on and off is provided below the drying filter unit 15.

  According to the washing machine according to this embodiment, after the garment is inserted from the garment insertion door 12, the power button 201 is turned on, so that the washing machine can be activated. Since the previous operation state is displayed on the display unit 110, by operating the start button 202, washing and drying can be performed with the same settings as the previous operation. In addition, when performing washing or drying different from the previous time, it is possible to input an arbitrary operation via the operation buttons on the touch panel, and the input content is displayed on the display unit 110, and the display content is displayed. If the user confirms and operates the start button 202, the selected course having the changed contents can be operated. Further, the setting contents are stored and displayed at the next operation.

  One of the major features of the operation display unit 100 used in the washing machine according to the present embodiment is that when the start button 202 is operated to drive the selected course, the driving state is displayed on the display unit 110 as necessary. It is to be displayed.

  Hereinafter, the washing machine according to this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the washing machine control apparatus according to this embodiment. When the switch 39 of the power button 201 is turned on, the microcomputer 20 arranged on the back side of the operation display unit 100 is connected to the operation button input circuit 22 connected to each operation switch 21 such as the start button 202 or the water level sensor. 23, the temperature sensor 24, the vibration sensor 25, and the touch panel 51, and receives various information signals in the user's button operation, washing process, and drying process. The communication unit 60 is connected to the Internet 80 via the wireless router 70 by the wireless LAN method, and performs data communication with the server 90 and the mobile terminal 95.

  An output from the microcomputer 20 is connected to a drive circuit 26 and connected to a water supply electromagnetic valve 27, a drain valve 28, an electric motor 29, a blower fan 30, a heater 31, and the like, and controls opening / closing, rotation, and energization thereof. Further, it is connected to the liquid crystal display device 50 for informing the user of the operating state of the washing machine, the LED light source 32, and the buzzer 33.

  The microcomputer 20 is activated when the switch 39 of the power button 201 is pressed and the power is turned on, and executes a basic control processing program for washing, drying and dehydration. The microcomputer 20 stores the control processing program in the built-in memory 34, calls these data as appropriate, and executes each process. The memory 34 is a type of memory in which the memory contents are not lost even when the main body is turned off. A non-volatile memory 53 such as a flash ROM is connected to the microcomputer 20 for the purpose of recording previously set operation instructions and operation history.

  Next, the configuration of the operation display unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation display unit 100 includes a liquid crystal display device 50, a touch panel 51, and a start button 20. In the present embodiment, a dot matrix liquid crystal display device is employed as the liquid crystal display device 50. The touch panel 51 is combined with the upper surface of the liquid crystal display device 50 and functions in the same manner as pressing a button by touching an image displayed on the liquid crystal display device 50 or a finger on the print on the touch panel. .

  Next, a display form of the display unit 110 during operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the “wash → dry” course is selected and the “standard” course is selected. According to this course menu, contents such as “washing” for 12 minutes, “rinsing” for 4 rinsings, “dehydration” for 1 minute, and drying for automatic operation are displayed. Further, it is shown that the remaining time until the end of operation is 2 hours and 50 minutes.

  Here, when the user has selected to display in the time format of the end time “what hour and minute” instead of the remaining time, the contents shown in FIG. 5 are displayed. FIG. 5 shows that the end time is 12:30 when the remaining time until the end of operation is 2 hours and 50 minutes at 9:40.

  Next, referring to FIG. 6, whether to display the time until the end of operation in the remaining time format of “how many minutes” or the time format of the end time “how many minutes” An operation flow for setting the remaining time display format selected by the user will be described.

Step S101
When the remaining time display format setting is started while the power is on, the process proceeds to a state S101 in which the remaining time display format setting screen is displayed.

Step S102
The user touches and selects “Remaining time” or “End time” on the screen.

Step S103
It is determined whether the selected display format is “end time”. If “end time” is selected, the process proceeds to S104. If not selected, the process proceeds to S105.

Step S104
The display format is set to “end time”, and the remaining time display format setting is terminated.

Step S105
Set the display format to "Remaining time" and finish the remaining time display format setting.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the operation flow for displaying the end time during operation will be described.

Step S201
The microcomputer 20 is activated when the power button 201 is pressed and the power is turned on. The microcomputer 20 is connected to the Internet and acquires the time from the server 90. A clock function is realized by updating the current time at regular intervals starting from this time. If the time cannot be acquired due to reasons such as being unable to connect to the Internet, the time is not acquired.

Step S202
After acquiring the time in S201, the process proceeds to the course selection state S202. Here, it is possible to select a process according to the user's preference, and to display the selection state.

Step S203
This is executed when the user confirms the course and presses the start button 202, and initializes the internal processing. After the start button is pressed, a selection screen such as step S102 is displayed by a specific key operation, and the setting can be switched even during operation.

Step S204
Perform sensing of the amount of cloth.

Step S205
Based on the sensing result, the washing, rinsing, and dehydration time are confirmed, and the energization pattern of the drive motor (not shown) of the drum in the tank is calculated and confirmed.

Step S206
Perform the selected process.

Step S207
If the time has been acquired and the remaining time display format “end time” is selected, the process proceeds to S208. If the time is not acquired or the remaining time display format “end time” is not selected, the process proceeds to S209.

Step S208
The end time is displayed instead of the remaining time until the end of operation. Here, the end time is obtained by adding the remaining time until the end of operation to the current time.

Step S209
Displays the remaining time until the end of operation.

Step S210
It is determined that all processes have been completed. If the process has not been completed, the process returns to S206.

  FIG. 8 shows a remaining time display format setting screen. Here, the user selects the remaining time format or the time format.

  In this embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to a drum-type washing machine has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a vertical washing machine in which the rotation axis of the washing tub is vertical.

  In this embodiment, the operation using the full-dot liquid crystal has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to other screen configurations and operation methods.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the washing machine including the main body housing, the washing tub provided in the main body housing, and the display device for displaying the end time of the operation,
By providing a function of connecting to the Internet for communication and acquiring the time from the Internet, it is possible to calculate and display the operation end time without mounting a clock function backed up by a battery.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body housing | casing 11 Clothing input port 12 Clothing input door 13 Door opening / closing handle 14 Detergent tray part 15 Drying filter part 16 Inclined surface 20 Microcomputer 21 Operation switch 22 Operation button input circuit 23 Water level sensor 24 Temperature sensor 25 Vibration sensor 26 Drive circuit 27 Water supply solenoid valve 28 Drain valve 29 Electric motor 30 Blower fan 31 Heater 32, 212 LED light source 33 Buzzer 34 Memory 50 Liquid crystal display device 51 Touch panel 52 Liquid crystal display unit 60 Communication unit 70 Wireless router 80 Internet 90 Server 95 Mobile terminal 100 Operation display unit 101 Operation display housing 110 Display unit 120 Display element 121 Remaining time display element 122 Display element 201 that does not overlap Power button 202 Start button

Claims (1)

  A main body housing, a washing tub provided in the main body housing, a display device that displays an operation end time, and a communication unit that communicates by connecting to the Internet, via the communication unit A washing machine that displays the end time of driving on the display device by acquiring the time.

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