DE112005001272T5 - Washing machine system and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

Washing system comprising:
an information label attached to the laundry with stored information about the laundry;
a laundry device for advancing various washing operations, said laundry device having a control unit for controlling washing operation;
a reader for receiving a signal from the information label on the laundry to obtain information stored in the information label; and
a household server connected to the control unit of the laundry device for providing various control signals, for receiving information obtained by the reader to perform the remote control of the laundry device.

Description

Technical field

The The present invention relates to a washing system and a method for controlling the same and in particular a washing system and a Method for controlling the same, in which the communication between a laundry device and a household server of a household network, to carry out automatic washing.

Background Art

in the There are general laundry devices Washing machines, dryers and washing and drying machines.

In Recently, thanks to the development of information technology an RFID tag (radio frequency identification) attached to a Logistics management or information management.

The RFID tag has a predetermined memory area to save to allow different types of information on clothing. The memory area has various types of recorded thereon Information or is a type of memory chip to record additional To allow information.

Especially Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-360968 discloses a Laundry machine in a non-contact Identification device is used, which is provided with: a Reader for receiving a signal from the RFID tag attached to the Clothing is to be applied and information is recorded a central information processing unit with a holding device for information, which the reader reads, and a control unit for setting or changing a Washing mode.

The Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-360968 is intended to Time of washing Washing information attached to the clothing To get RFID tag to prevent wrong wash setting.

The however, the above related art has a problem in terms of that required is that the RFID tag as much information as possible stores.

The is called, it is necessary that a Memory size of the RFID tag in relation to is larger to an amount of information what an increase in Costs caused, which means that the patent is not practicable is.

Also used the above related art only read the information read by the reader for the laundry machine even.

A CPU, which is used in a normal washing machine, however has due to manufacturing cost poor performance, the Information processing is not smooth and many occur Error on.

Disclosure of the invention

Technical problem

The The object of the present invention is a new washing system and to provide a method for its control, the Terms of information about different kinds of in a laundry device introduced Laundry, the be scanned automatically over a household network can be controlled.

Technical solution

The Object of the present invention can be achieved by a washing system is provided, which comprises: a laundry-attached Information label with stored information about the Laundry, a laundry device to to promote various washing operations, the Laundry device one Control unit for controlling the washing operation Be has a reader to receive a signal from the information label on the laundry, to get information stored in the information tag, and a household server connected to the control unit of the laundry device, to provide various control signals to read from the reader Receive information to a remote control of the laundry device perform.

To Another aspect of the present invention includes a method for controlling a washing system for the solution of the object of the present invention Invention an information acquisition step for obtaining Information about that Washing laundry, a control setting step for transmitting the obtained information to a home server to create a control algorithm, an information receiving step of receiving the generated control algorithm and a washing progress step for washing the laundry according to the received control algorithm.

Advantageous results

The washing system and the method of its control, by the Identifizie To set laundry types using a non-contact system to set different automatic washing cycles.

The Washing system and the method of controlling minimize information, which are to be stored in an information label of the laundry, to reduce the manufacturing cost of the information label.

There the household server can set different control algorithms in the laundry device a comparatively inexpensive Processing unit, for example, a CPU used.

Short description of drawings

1 Fig. 12 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a washing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

2 Fig. 12 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a washing system according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

3 FIG. 10 is a flowchart schematically showing the steps of a method of controlling a washing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. and

4 FIG. 10 is a flowchart briefly showing an example of the steps of a method of generating a control algorithm in a control method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Best execution the invention

preferred embodiments The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings described in detail.

1 FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a washing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

That is, the washing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an information tag 110 , a laundry device 120 , a reader 130 and a household server 140 ,

The information label 110 is attached to various types of laundry (for example, clothing or bedding) to store information about the laundry.

The in the information label 110 stored information about the laundry are about a type of laundry. Of course, the information label 110 and at least one type of wash laundry information, ie, preferred operating periods for respective aisles, preferred operating temperatures for respective aisles, or preferred water levels for respective aisles.

However, to store all the different types of information, there may be a storage capacity of the information label 110 only get bigger while the cost of the information label 110 only can rise.

Consequently, it is best that only minimal essential information, ie information about the types of laundry, be included in the information label 110 Also, the preferred embodiment of the present invention only suggests storing information about the type of laundry in the information label 110 in front.

Of course, it is preferred that the household server 140 Information about each type of laundry stores.

In the laundry device 120 There are washing machines, dryers or washing and drying machines that perform washing operations, such as washing and / or drying various types of laundry.

In particular, the laundry device comprises 120 a control unit 121 for controlling various operations relating to washing. In general, it is preferred that the control unit 121 a controller for performing the operation control of the laundry device 120 is.

The reader 130 receives the signal from the information label 110 to put in the information label 110 to receive stored information.

It is preferred that the information label 110 an RFID tag (radio redemption identification tag) on which various types of information can be written and stored, and the reader 130 an RF reader for exchanging signals with the RFID tag is to receive information from the RFID tag or to write new information on the RFID tag.

Of course, for the information label 110 not just a barcode used to make a barcode reader for the reader 130 to use it, but it Also, a variety of other constructions can be used which can exchange information with a non-contact method.

In particular, the preferred embodiment of the present invention proposes the reader 130 ago, acting as a unit with the laundry device 120 is made, the reader 130 such with the control unit 121 the laundry device 120 connected to the sending / receiving of various types of information between the reader 130 and the control unit 121 is possible.

Of course, the reader can 130 Referring to 2 separate from the laundry device 120 are prepared, if preferred, that the reader 130 with a household server 140 which will be described later for enabling the sending / receiving of information.

The household server 140 Connects various household appliances to a communication network to form a home network so that home appliances are remotely controlled as needed. Although the household server 140 can be provided with one of the household appliances (for example, television, refrigerator or so on) in the house, the preferred embodiment of the present invention proposes that the household server 160 is a separate computer.

In particular, it is preferred that the household server 140 with the control unit 121 the laundry device 120 connected to enable communication with it. Along with it is preferred. that the household server 140 is constructed so that it is supplied with information provided by the reader 130 to be obtained to the remote control of the laundry device 120 perform.

Besides, the household server has 140 a database 141 with information about washing for different types of laundry. The household server 140 is programmed so that the household server 140 in a case where the type of laundry is due to the signal exchange between the reader 130 and the information labels 110 is identified, retrieves a control algorithm for retrieving various types of information about the washing of the thus identified type of laundry, and advances a laundry washing operation.

In In this case, it is preferable that the information about Washing at least one type of information comprises: information about preferred operating periods for respective passages, preferred operating temperatures for each respective passages or preferred water levels for each Courses.

Of course it is possible that the information label 110 may have stored an identification code matching the laundry and the database 141 of the household server 140 Information about washing the different types of laundry for each of the matching identification codes can be stored.

In this case, the appropriate identification code may be from the user who owns the household server 140 served by the reader 130 in the information label 110 the laundry are stored. This is possible because the information label 110 an RFID tag on which information can also be written, and the reader 130 an HF reader is.

A method of controlling the foregoing washing system will be described with reference to the attached flow charts in FIG 3 and 4 described.

When the user inserts laundry into the laundry device, the reader leads 130 at the laundry device 120 the exchange of information with the information labels 110 the imported linen and get in the information labels 110 stored information about the laundry (S110).

In In this case, the information about the laundry information about the Type and amount of linen.

If the reader 130 the obtaining of information about the laundry ends, the control unit receives 121 the information about the laundry from the reader 130 and send it to the household server 140 (S120).

If the reader 130 separate from the laundry device 120 is (for example, if the reader 130 is provided on a laundry basket or the like), it is preferred that the reader 130 the information obtained in this way about the laundry directly to the household server 140 sends.

Then the household server generates 140 That provides the information about the wash through the above series of steps from the control unit 121 has received, with reference to the information thus received, a control algorithm for advancing the washing-related operation (S130).

It can be many types of methods of generating the control algorithm give.

Referring to the flowchart in FIG 4 the household server calls 140 for example, with reference to that of the reader 130 Laundry type received in advance Washing information for the laundry type from the in the database 141 stored various types of information (S131).

Then the household server generates 140 a control algorithm for advancing washing-related operation by setting preferred operating periods for respective gears, preferred operating temperatures for respective gears, or preferred water levels for respective gears or so on, with reference to the retrieved information and information about a laundry amount (S132).

Although not shown, the generation of the control algorithm can be done by, in a state where control algorithms for respective types of laundry also in the database 141 of the household server 140 have been saved in advance, from different types of in the database 141 registered control algorithms retrieve a control algorithm of a laundry type, once the identification of the type of laundry was carried out as above.

Then the household server sends 140 the control algorithm generated by the above series of steps to the control unit 121 the laundry device (S140).

Although not shown, the control unit drives 121 accordingly, the washing-related operation, while according to the of the household server 140 For example, the control algorithm received, for example, performs the control of a drive motor, various valves and heaters, and fans required for driving a drum (S150).

If the laundry is identified and a control algorithm therefor in the preferred embodiment of the present invention through a series of steps the household server is set automatically, eventually the automatic adjustment of a control algorithm made easily become,

Industrial applicability

There the washing system and the method of controlling the information, which are to be stored in an information label of the laundry, minimize the manufacturing cost of the information label reduce, are the washing system and the method of its control advantageous to a relevant Commercial applicable.

There the home server sets various control algorithms which the use of a relatively inexpensive processing unit, for example, a CPU, at the laundry device enable, the washing system and the method of controlling it are advantageous to a relevant one Commercial applicable.

Summary

The The present invention relates to a washing system and a method for its control and in particular a washing system with a new structure and a method of controlling the same for washing introduced into a drum Carry out an automatic identification or not the consideration of laundry, the has not been identified, miss, and automatic Identification of essential properties of the drum introduced Laundry, wherein a user refers to it during the adjustment operation.

Claims (15)

Washing system comprising: one attached to the linen Information label with stored information about the Laundry; a laundry machine for advancing various washing operations, the laundry machine a control unit for controlling the washing related operation Has; a reader for receiving a signal from the information label on the laundry, to obtain information stored in the information tag; and one connected to the control unit of the laundry device Household server to provide various control signals, to receive from information obtained by the reader to the remote control the laundry device perform. The washing system of claim 1, wherein the reader is attached to the laundry machine is provided. The washing system of claim 1, wherein the reader is separate from the laundry device is provided. A washing system according to claim 1, wherein the reader comprises the control unit of the laundry device connected to be able to provide various informational data to send / receive from her. A washing system according to claim 1, wherein the reader comprises The household server is connected to be able to different To send / receive informational information to him / her. Washing system according to claim 1, wherein the household server information about has stored the washing of various types of laundry and the information label on the laundry information about one Type of linen has saved. Washing system according to claim 1, wherein the household server information about the washing of different types of laundry, which leads to different Identification codes fit, has and the information label on the laundry a suitable for the laundry Identification code has been stored. Washing system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the information about the Washing at least one kind of the following information for the laundry include: information about the preferred operating periods for respective gears, preferred operating temperatures for each Aisles and preferred water levels for each Courses. A method of controlling a washing system comprising: one Information gathering step for obtaining information about the Washing laundry; one Control setting step for transmitting the obtained information to a home server to generate a control algorithm; one An information receiving step of receiving the generated control algorithm; and a step for advancing the washing of the laundry accordingly the received control algorithm. The method of claim 9, wherein the information gathering step the step of controlling a reader comprises signals with a Laundry exchange attached information label. The method of claim 10, wherein in the control adjustment step to the household server sent information directly from the reader the household server will be sent. The method of claim 10, wherein in the control adjustment step sent to the household server information is sent the control unit receives the information from the reader and Forward the information to the household server. The method of claim 10, wherein in the information gathering step Information received from the reader Information about a Type of linen are. The method of claim 10, wherein the household server is operated, which includes the following steps: Identify a type of laundry received by the reader; to compare of the type identified with information stored in advance on the Washing different types of laundry to get information about that Washing the laundry type retrieve; and Create a control algorithm for washing the Laundry with reference to the information retrieved. The method of claim 14, wherein the generation performed the control algorithm in a state in which the control algorithms for each types of laundry registered in advance in a memory of the household server Control algorithm of a wash type retrieved from registered different types of control algorithms will if the identification of the laundry type was made once.