EP3290560A1

EP3290560A1 - Washing machine control method and washing machine

Info

Publication number: EP3290560A1
Application number: EP16785959.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sheng Xu; Yang Li; Chenyu JI; Shuchun Wang; Yan Li; Junming YIN
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-04-30
Filing date: 2016-04-29
Publication date: 2018-03-07
Also published as: WO2016173531A1; KR20170138559A; JP2018514311A; US20180127910A1; CN106192289A; EP3290560A4

Abstract

A washing machine and a control method thereof are provided. The present application belongs to the fields of washing machines and control methods thereof, and is designed to solve problems that an existing method is difficult to be applied to practice, and the like. The control method of the washing machine includes: taking a photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed before the clothes are thrown into a washing drum or during a process of rolling and weighing the clothes; comparing, by a control apparatus, clothes data in a database with at least one photograph or at least one picture extracted from the video to confirm basic information of each piece of clothes to be washed; and automatically selecting, by the control apparatus, a washing procedure according to the basic information of all the clothes to be washed. The washing machine and control method thereof solve the problem that the existing method is difficult to be applied to practice, and are convenient in use and high in accuracy for determining the clothes information.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine and a control method thereof.

BACKGROUND

To achieve a better washing effect, a washing machine provides different washing procedures for selection according to information about clothes to be washed, such as material, colors and the like. However, if the washing procedures are selected manually, there exists various problems. For example, there exists a large error, and the washing procedures are time-consuming. To avoid the above problems, the users popularly expect that the washing machine can automatically identify information of the material of the clothes to select the washing procedures.
An existing method for automatically identifying information of the material of the clothes to select the washing procedures is achieved as follows: information of the clothes to be washed is acquired by an image processing apparatus and an information input apparatus, and transmitted to a computer program controller; it is logically determined by a control system whether the clothes to be washed are suitable for mixed washing; and a best washing procedure is automatically selected for the clothes suitable for mixed washing. The method does not clearly describe how to acquire the information of the clothes to be washed, causing that the method is difficult to be used practically.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure aims to propose a control method of a washing machine. The control method easy to use and has high accuracy in determining information of the clothes.
The present disclosure further aims to propose a washing machine capable of realizing automatic identification of the clothes to be washed and active recommendation of the washing procedures.
In view of the above, a control method of a washing machine is proposed in one aspect of the present disclosure.
A photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed is taken before each piece of clothes to be washed is thrown into a washing drum or during a process of rolling and weighing the clothes to be washed. A control apparatus comparises with clothes data in a database with at least one photograph or at least one picture extracted from the video, to confirm basic information of each piece of clothes to be washed. A washing procedure is automatically selected by the control apparatus according to the basic information of all the clothes to be washed.
Specially, the method includes the following steps:

step 1, taking a photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed;
step 2, obtaining, by the control apparatus, at least one photograph or at least one picture extracted from the video image;
step 3, comparing, by the control apparatus, the photograph or picture with the clothes data in the database to confirm the basic information of each piece of clothes to be washed; and
step 4, automatically selecting, by the control apparatus, a washing procedure according to the basic information of all the clothes to be washed.

Specially, washing times of each piece of clothes or specified clothes are recorded by the control apparatus.
Specially, the photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed is taken by adopting a three-dimensional imaging technology.
Specially, a plurality of pictures are extracted from the video, and the basic information of the clothes is confirmed in combination with the plurality of pictures.
Specially, the basic information of the clothes comprises colors, patterns, texture, material, decoloration property, types, weight, styles, best washing temperature, washing requirements and/or brands.
Specially, the database is provided in a local server, a remote server or cloud server.
Specially, the clothes to be washed are unfolded and photographed in front of a camera before thrown into the washing drum.
Specially, the washing procedure comprises the followings: whether the cloths are mixed washing or not; washing time; water temperature during washing; detergent types; washing times and/or rinsing times.
On the other hand, the present disclosure proposes a washing machine applying the above control method.
The washing machine includes a photographing apparatus and/or a videoing apparatus. The photographing apparatus and/or the videoing apparatus is installed in an inner drum, or on an observation window or on an upper cover of the washing machine.
According to the control method of the washing machine provided by the present disclosure, an image of the clothes to be washed is captured by photographing or videoing; the basic information of each piece of clothes to be washed is confirmed after comparison, and a washing procedure is automatically selected according to the basic information of all the clothes to be washed. Therefore, the problem that the existing method is difficult to be applied to practice is solved, realizing convenient use and high accuracy for determining the clothes information.
The washing machine of the present disclosure includes a photographing apparatus and/or a videoing apparatus. The photographing apparatus and/or videoing apparatus is used for taking a photograph or video of the clothes to be washed, so as to obtain the basic information. Therefore, the automatic identification of the clothes to be washed and active recommendation of the washing procedures can be achieved, and the automation degree is high.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a control method of a washing machine provided by a preferred embodiment I of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solution of the present disclosure will be further described below in combination with the drawings and specific embodiments.

Preferred Embodiment I

The present preferred embodiment discloses a control method of a washing machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the control method includes steps described below.
In step 1, a photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed is taken. Depending on specific use conditions, the photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed may be taken before the clothes are thrown into a washing drum, or during a process of rolling and weighing the clothes.
Considering that the photograph or picture captured after the clothes to be washed are kneaded is difficult to reflect an entire shape and appearance of the clothes, the clothes to be washed are preferably unfolded and photographed in front of a camera before thrown into the washing drum. Accordingly, the photograph or picture captured at this time is most clear and accurate.
The photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed taken by adopting a three-dimensional imaging technology, so as to ensure that the captured picture or image is informative. Thus, it is tried to use as few pictures or images as possible to represent each piece of clothes to be washed.
In the case that the video of the clothes to be washed is taken, the clothes are generally in a motion state. In this case, a plurality of pictures need to be extracted from the video, and the basic information of the clothes is confirmed in combination with the plurality of pictures.
In step 2, at least one photograph or at least one picture extracted from the video is obtained by a control apparatus. The photograph or picture should be clear enough. Otherwise, the photograph or picture cannot be used for comparison. When the photographs or pictures are repeated, the clearest one is reserved and the others are deleted.
In Step 3, the photograph or picture is compared with clothes data in the database by the control apparatus to confirm the basic information of each piece of clothes to be washed. The basic information of the clothes mainly includes but not limited to colors, patterns, texture, material (including cotton, linen, chemical fiber, dacron, silk, silk fabric, down feather, denim and the like), decoloration property, types (including underwear, overcoat, trousers, children clothes, sheet, quilt covers and the like), weight, styles, best washing temperature, washing requirements and/or brands, which are uses as a basis for determining the washing procedure subsequently.
The database may be arranged in a local server. Optionally, the database may also be provided in a remote server or cloud server, and may be communicated through Internet of things to form data reports and the like.
After the basic information of the clothes to be washed is confirmed, washing times of each piece of clothes or specified clothes is recorded by the control apparatus. The control apparatus is configured to remind the user that "xx clothes have been worn x times, and need to be maintained and treated" when the washing times of some clothes reach a set value. The control apparatus is further configured to master user preferences (preferences in aspects of colors, material, brands and the like) according to the washing times of the clothes, so as to recommend new fashionable products for the user pertinently.
In Step 4, the washing procedure is automatically selected by the control apparatus according to the basic information of all the clothes to be washed. The washing procedure includes but not limited to mixed washing or not, washing time, water temperature during washing, detergent types, washing times and/or rinsing times.
A washing machine applying the above control method includes a photographing apparatus and/or a videoing apparatus. The photographing apparatus and/or the videoing apparatus is installed on an upper cover of the washing machine. At the time of preparing washing, the clothes to be washed are thrown into an inner drum through an opening. The turned-up upper cover is exactly aligned with the opening of the inner drum. Since the photographing apparatus and/or the videoing apparatus is arranged on the upper cover, it is more convenient to take a photograph or video of the clothes to be washed.

Preferred Embodiment II

The present preferred embodiment provides a washing machine and a control method thereof. The present preferred embodiment is basically identical with the preferred embodiment I in contents. The control method includes: taking a photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed before the clothes are thrown into the washing drum or during the process of rolling and weighing the clothes; comparing, by a control apparatus, at least one photograph or at least one picture extracted from the video with the clothes data in the database, so as to confirm basic information of each piece of clothes to be washed; and automatically selecting, by the control apparatus, a washing procedure according to the basic information of all the clothes to be washed.
The differences between the present embodiment and the preferred Embodiment I lie in that: specific steps of the control method are not limited, as long as the basic information of the clothes can be determined according to the photograph or the picture extracted from the video of the clothes to be washed; specific methods and devices used for taking a photograp or video are not limited as long as a clear image of the clothes can be obtained; the basic information of the clothes not only includes colors, patterns, texture, material and/or brands, but also includes other information which can be used as a basis for determining the washing procedures.
The washing machine applying the above control method can simultaneously include a photographing apparatus and a videoing apparatus. Specific installation positions of the photographing apparatus and the videoing apparatus are not limited. The photographing apparatus and the videoing apparatus can be installed on the upper cover of the washing machine, and can also be installed in the inner drum or on the observation window of the washing machine. The photographing apparatus and the videoing apparatus can also be arranged separately, as long as the clothes to be washed can be photographed or videoed conveniently and accurately.
It shall be noted that the above contents are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and used technical principles. It can be understood for those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to specific embodiments described herein. For those skilled in the art, the present disclosure can be subject to various apparent variations, readjustments and replacements without departing from a protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, although the present disclosure is described in detail through above embodiments, the present disclosure is not only limited to above embodiments. The present disclosure can also include more other equivalent embodiments without deviating from conceptions of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is determined by a scope of attached claims.

Claims

A control method of a washing machine, wherein a photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed is taken before the clothes to be washed are thrown into a washing drum or during a process of rolling and weighing the clothes to be washed; a control apparatus compares clothes data in a database with at least one photograph or at least one picture extracted from the video, to confirm basic information of each piece of clothes to be washed; and the control apparatus automatically selects a washing procedure according to the basic information of all the clothes to be washed.
The control method of the washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
step 1, taking a photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed;

step 2, obtaining at least one photograph or at least one picture extracted from the video by the control apparatus;

step 3, comparing, by the control apparatus, the clothes data in the database with the photograph or the picture to confirm the basic information of each piece of clothes to be washed; and

step 4, automatically selecting, by the control apparatus, the washing procedure according to the basic information of all the clothes to be washed.
The control method of the washing machine according to claim 1, wherein washing times of each piece of clothes or specified clothes are recorded by the control apparatus.
The control method of the washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the photograph or video of each piece of clothes to be washed is taken by adopting a three-dimensional imaging technology.
The control method of the washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pictures are extracted from the video, and the basic information of the clothes is confirmed in combination with the plurality of pictures.
The control method of the washing machine according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the basic information of the clothes is selected from a group of the followings: colors, patterns, texture, material, decoloration property, types, weight, styles, best washing temperature, washing requirements and brands.
The control method of the washing machine according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the database is provided in at least one of a local server, a remote server and cloud server.
The control method of the washing machine according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the clothes to be washed are unfolded and photographed in front of a camera before thrown into the washing drum.
The control method of the washing machine according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the washing procedure comprises at least one of followings: whether the cloths are mixed washing or not; washing time; water temperature during washing; detergent types; washing times and rinsing times.
A washing machine applying the control method according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the washing machine comprises at least one of a photographing apparatus and a videoing apparatus, wherein at least one of the photographing apparatus and the videoing apparatus is installed in an inner drum, an observation window or on an upper cover of the washing machine.