JP2002136790A - Operation content setting method for washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation content setting method for a washing machine with excellent setting operability and handleability capable of reaching a desired setting value in a short time and accurately and easily setting washing conditions such as washing time in the case of setting them by changing an integral value by pressing a setting button. SOLUTION: In this operation content setting method for the washing machine provided with the setting button for setting the washing conditions such as the washing time and a water amount and a display part for displaying the set washing conditions by the setting value of an integer, when the setting button is continuously pressurized, the display of the setting value as the washing condition is changed. The setting value is changed at a prescribed time interval in a direction from the lower limit value to the upper limit value. After the upper limit value is reached, it is changed at the prescribed time interval in the direction from the upper limit value to the lower limit value. A numeral displayed at the display part at the point of time of stopping the pressurizing operation is defined as the setting value and the washing conditions such as the washing time and the water amount are set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for setting operation contents of a washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a fully automatic washing machine suspends a water tank 2 in an outer box 1 via a vibration isolator so as to swing freely. A washing and dewatering tub 4 provided with a rotary wing 3 is rotatably disposed, and the washing and dewatering tub 4 is provided.
The opening at the top of the box 1 is openably and closably covered with a lid 5. An operation panel 6 is attached to the front side of a top cover 15 attached to the top of the outer box 1.

The operation panel 6 is provided with a setting button for setting washing contents and a display for displaying the set contents. Conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG. A course button 9 for setting a washing course, a reservation button 10 for reserving a washing end time, a water level button 11 for setting a water level (amount of water), a washing button 12 for setting a washing time, and a rinsing button for setting the number of times of rinsing. 13. Various setting buttons such as a dehydration button 14 for setting a dehydration time are provided.

[0004] Further, as a display section 16 corresponding to each of the setting buttons, a set value 16a indicating a water level in a plurality of stages and a display lamp 16 corresponding to the set value 16a are provided for the water level button 11.
b is provided in parallel with the set value 16a, and the water level button 1 is also provided for the wash button 12, the rinse button 13, and the dehydration button 14.
As in the case of 1, a set value 16a indicating the washing time, the number of times of rinsing, and the dehydration time in a plurality of stages, and a display lamp 16b corresponding thereto are provided side by side with the set value 16a.

The set value 16a is set in advance as a recommended value for the user on the manufacturing side of the washing machine. For example, the water amount is 18, 34, 39, 45, 52, 56, 6
It is 2 liters, the washing time is 5, 8, 10, 14 minutes, the number of times of rinsing is 1, 2, 3 times, and the dehydration time is 1, 3, 5, 7 minutes.

When the washing contents are set prior to the start of washing, for example, when the washing button 12 is pressed to set the washing time, the display lamp 16b is lit correspondingly. When the button is intermittently pressed, the position of the display lamp 16b which is turned on corresponding to the display of the plurality of set values 16a indicating the washing time is sequentially changed, and the position of the desired set value 16a of the washing time is displayed. The display lamp 16b is turned on to set the washing time. The setting of the number of times of rinsing and the setting of the dehydration time are performed in the same manner.

However, the set value 16a is set in a stepwise manner by skipping an integer value as a recommended value, and a numerical value other than the numerical value set here cannot be set as a set value. . Therefore, as a washing machine capable of setting more detailed numerical values, for example, FIG.
A washing machine provided with an operation panel 6 as shown in FIG.

[0008] The operation panel 6 of the washing machine also has a water level button 11 as a setting button, similarly to the one shown in FIG.
Wash button 12, rinse button 13, dehydration button 14,
A reservation button 10 is provided. Among the setting buttons, the washing button 12, the rinsing button 13, the spin-drying button 14, and the reservation button 10 are formed with a display section 17 corresponding to the washing button 12, the rinsing button 13, the seven-segment array, and the seven segments. By turning on one of these, an integer value from 1 to 9 is displayed as the set value.

The washing button 12 and the reservation button 10 are arranged so that two seven segments are arranged on the display unit 17 so as to display a two-digit numerical value. For example, as a set value 17a indicating the set washing time, For example, from “1” to “1”
Integer values up to 4 "are set so as to be displayed, and by continuously pressing the wash button 12 (so-called long press), the set values 17a are sequentially changed from" 1 "to" 1 "" 2 "" 3 "... Is displayed at predetermined time intervals, for example, every 0.4 seconds, while sequentially adding "1" to this. Therefore, the washing time in increments of one minute is sequentially displayed as a set value, and when the desired numerical value is reached, the washing time is set by stopping pressing the washing button 12.

Similarly, for the setting of the number of times of rinsing, the duration of dehydration, the amount of water, and the like, the set values displayed on the display unit 17 are added in order from "1" by long-pressing the rinse button 13 and the dehydration button 14. It is displayed as a set value in minute values in units of one minute or one liter in numerical values.

[0011]

Displaying the set value in minute values in increments of one minute or in increments of one liter in integer values as described above is desired, but is displayed. If the desired value is displayed and the button press cannot be stopped in a timely manner because the numerical value changes at a relatively short interval of, for example, 0.4 seconds, the displayed numerical value changes in an increasing direction. To continue, it is necessary to restart the setting operation from the beginning to set a desired setting value. In particular, when setting the water volume, for example, since the value reaches a maximum of 65 liters, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive to re-start the numerical value setting from the display of the lower limit value of “1” because the operation is not good. is there.

An object of the present invention is to solve the inconvenience of the prior art, and to set a washing condition such as a washing time by pressing a setting button to change an integer value, thereby achieving a desired set value in a short time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for setting the operation details of a washing machine which can be set accurately and easily, has good setting operability, and is easy to use.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention firstly provides a setting button for setting washing conditions such as a washing time and a water amount, and a display of the set washing conditions as an integer set value. And a display unit for changing the display of the set value as the washing condition when the set button is continuously pressed to change the set value from the lower limit to the upper limit. It changes at a predetermined interval time in the direction of heading, and after reaching the upper limit value, changes at a predetermined interval time in the direction from the upper limit value to the lower limit value, and the number displayed on the display unit when the pressing operation is stopped Is set as a set value, and the washing conditions such as the washing time and the amount of water are set.

As a result, the displayed set value changes at a relatively short interval, for example, at 0.4 second intervals, and the pressing operation of the set button cannot be stopped at the target set value in a timely manner. Even if the numerical value increases further, after the numerical value reaches the upper limit, the numerical value changes in the direction from the upper limit to the lower limit, so it is necessary to start the setting operation again from the display of the lower limit of “1”. And the target set value can be easily reached in a short time.

Secondly, the apparatus is provided with a setting button for setting washing conditions such as a washing time and a water amount, and a display section for displaying the set washing conditions as an integer set value. Then, in the operation content setting method of the washing machine in which the display of the set value as the washing condition is changed, a predetermined numerical value is set as a dividing numerical value among the changing integer values, and the numerical value of the dividing numerical value is displayed. The display time was set longer than the display time when a numerical value other than the numerical value of the delimiter was displayed, and was set as a waiting time in which the displayed numerical value did not change.

[0016] Accordingly, the time during which the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed is longer than the display time when a numerical value other than the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed as the waiting time. The value of this delimiter is "1
If the setting is made in an easy-to-understand unit such as “0”, “20”, “30”,..., The pressing operation of the setting button is continued with the numerical value of this delimiter as a target. Since it is possible to set fine numerical values in units of digits, it is possible to accurately reach the target set value at one time as compared with a case where all numerical values change at the same speed.

Third, the numerical value of the delimiter is set at a plurality of places, and the display time of the numerical value between the numerical values of the delimiter is shorter than the case where the display of the set value is changed without setting the numerical value of the delimiter. By setting and changing the display of numerical values at a high speed, the overall time required to reach the target set value can be reduced. And even in this case, since the numerical value of the delimiter is set and the waiting time is provided at the position of the numerical value of the delimiter,
It is unlikely that the vehicle will pass the target set value by mistake.

Fourthly, an alarm sound is generated in synchronization with the waiting time when the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed, so that the user is notified by sound that the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed. Notify and alert. Such notice, in particular,
It is effective for blind users.

Fifthly, when the notification sound is set at a plurality of places, the tone is set to a different tone for each of the different setting places.
Since the numerical value displayed at the time of the notification is known, if the number of times the setting button is pressed after the notification by the notification sound is counted, the target set value can be set without looking at the display unit.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an operation panel of a washing machine in which a method for setting operation contents of a washing machine of the present invention is performed. FIG. 4 shows an overall configuration of the washing machine in which the present invention is implemented. 1 has already been described, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The operation panel 6 of the present invention also has a water level button 11, a washing button 12, a rinsing button 13, a dehydration button 14, and a reservation button 10 as setting buttons in addition to the power button 7, the start button 8, etc. Among the setting buttons, the washing button 12, the rinsing button 13, the spin-drying button 14, and the reservation button 10 are formed with a display unit 17 corresponding to the washing button 12, the rinsing button 13, the seven-segment arranged in a Japanese character shape, By lighting one of the seven segments, the numbers from 1 to 9 are displayed. In the example shown in the figure, the display unit 17 corresponding to the water level button 11 is composed of a numeral indicating the amount of water and a lamp. However, the display unit of the amount of water may be displayed in seven segments.

For example, the washing button 12 is configured such that two seven segments are arranged on the display unit 17 so as to display a two-digit numerical value, and a set value 17a indicating the set washing time is, for example, "1". The "" to "14" minutes are set to be displayable, and the set value 17a by an integer is sequentially displayed one by one by sequentially pressing the wash button 12 (so-called long press), for example, 0.4. It is set to increase or decrease at intervals of seconds.

A method of setting operation contents such as a washing time using the setting buttons will be described. FIG. 2 shows the first
In the flowchart of the setting operation according to the embodiment, for example, in the case of setting the washing time, the display unit 17 is set so that an integer value from a lower limit value “1” to an upper limit value “14” can be displayed as the set value 17a. In addition, in the case of setting the water amount, the display unit 17 is set to be able to display, for example, an integer value from the lower limit value “1” to the upper limit value “61” as the set value 17a.
In addition, the setting of the number of times of rinsing, the dehydration time, and the reservation time is the same.

For example, when setting the washing time,
When the set value 17a currently displayed on the display unit 17 is the upper limit value or the lower limit value [Step (A)], the wash button 12 is continuously pressed (so-called long press) to obtain [Step (B)]. Integer set values 17a are sequentially changed one by one at a constant display interval, for example, at 0.4 second intervals, and increase and decrease in the case of the lower limit value and decrease in the case of the upper limit value [step (c) (d)].

For example, if the numerical value displayed on the display unit 17 at the time when the washing button 12 is started to be pressed is the lower limit value “1” and the target set value of the user is “10”, the displayed value is displayed. The numerical value changes in the direction of increasing from “1” to an integer obtained by adding “1” to this in order [step (e)]. Therefore, when the user stops pressing the wash button 12 when the numerical value displayed on the display unit 17 increases to “10” and reaches this value, the set value 1 is displayed on the display unit 17.
"10" minutes is displayed as 7a, and this is set as the washing time.

However, the numerical value displayed and changed on the display unit 17 increases at intervals of, for example, 0.4 seconds as described above. Therefore, when the displayed numerical value reaches the target value "10", the wash button 12 is changed. If the press operation of can not be stopped,
The value will increase further as it is. In such cases,
After the displayed numerical value reaches the upper limit value "14" (step (c)), the value changes from the upper limit value "14" to a decreasing direction, that is, "13""12". Step (d)], the user only needs to stop pressing the wash button 12 when the numerical value displayed again reaches the target value "10".

Therefore, even if the user cannot set the target set value when the displayed numerical value is in the increasing direction, the user does not need to restart the display from "1", and the target set value can be changed to the target set value for a short time. Can be reached.

If the numerical value displayed on the display unit 17 at the time when the washing button 12 is started to be pressed is the upper limit value "14" and the target set value of the user is "10", it is displayed. Value is the currently displayed upper limit of “1”.
The number changes from "4" to an integer obtained by sequentially subtracting "1" from the number "4" (step (d)). Therefore, if the user stops pressing the wash button 12 when the numerical value displayed on the display unit 17 decreases to "10" and reaches this value, the display unit 17 sets the set value 17a to "10" minutes. Is displayed, and this is set as the washing time.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the method for setting the contents of washing. The display section 17 composed of 7 segments has, for example, a set value 1 for displaying the washing time.
For example, 7a is set to be displayable from "1" to "14" minutes, and the set value 17a for displaying the water amount is set to be displayable from, for example, "1" to "61" liters.

In the second embodiment, when the wash button 12 is continuously pressed as a setting button (so-called long press), the integer set value 17a is sequentially increased and changed one by one. Set a predetermined numerical value as a delimiter value in the changing integer value, and set the display time when this delimiter value is displayed to be longer than the display time when a value other than the delimiter value is displayed. , And the wait time was such that the displayed value did not change.

For example, the washing time is from "1" to "14".
When the display is changed to minutes, “5” minutes and “10” minutes are set as the delimiter numbers. The choice of the delimiter value is based on the user's normal feeling in daily life. Then, the time during which the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed is set to, for example, 0.5 second, and the display time when a numerical value other than the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed is set to 0.1 second.

Further, when the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed, an alarm such as a buzzer is operated in synchronization with the numerical value to generate an alarm sound, and the numerical value of the alarm is set at a plurality of places. In this case, different tones were set for different setting locations.

Then, for example, to set the washing time,
When the wash button 12 is held down for a long time [step (f)], the set value 17a currently displayed on the display unit 17 changes in the increasing direction. At this time, the change of the displayed numerical value is performed at a high speed of, for example, 0.1 second at intervals between the numerical values of the division [step (g)].

When the displayed numerical value changes and reaches the position of the numerical value of the division [step (h)], the numerical change waiting time,
For example, 0.5 seconds is set and this is counted down [step (re) (nu)]. Therefore, during 0.5 seconds, the delimiter value, for example, “5” minutes, “10” minutes is 0.5
Displayed for seconds.

At the same time, an alarm such as a buzzer is activated during the number change waiting time [step (ル) (ヲ)], and a sound indicates that the display is a numerical value of "5" minutes and "10" minutes. Notify user. As a result, the user can visually and audibly recognize to what extent the displayed numerical value has changed, and at the same time, can draw attention.

Further, the notification sound is made to be different for each of different numerical values of different sections such as "5" and "10" so that the user can listen to the notification sound only for "5" minutes. And "10" minutes can be distinguished.

Therefore, for example, if the target set value is “8” minutes, the user sets the target set value to “5” by displaying the numerical waiting time and the notification sound indicating the delimiter value at the “5” minute point. We knew that 8 minutes were near, and at this point we had a wash button 1
2 Hold down [Step (F)], and then press Wash button 1
If 2 is intermittently pressed once and the displayed numerical value is increased by one [Step (W)], the target set value can be accurately reached in one operation and in a short time.

In the second embodiment, the display time when a numerical value other than the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed is set to 0.
It is 1 second, which is shorter than the display interval of 0.4 second in the first embodiment, but by setting the display time of the numerical value of the delimiter as the waiting time, it is possible to know that the target set value is close. Therefore, no problem occurs even if the numerical value change is set at a high speed at a location far from the target set value.

The present invention can be applied to setting of operation contents other than the setting of the washing time.

[0040]

As described above, the method for setting the operation content of the washing machine of the washing machine according to the present invention comprises, first, a setting button for setting washing conditions such as a washing time and a water amount, and a setting button for setting the washing conditions. A display for displaying an integer set value, wherein when the set button is continuously pressed, the display of the set value as the washing condition changes, the change in the set value is the change in the set value. It changes at a predetermined interval time in the direction from the lower limit to the upper limit, and after reaching the upper limit, changes at a predetermined interval in the direction from the upper limit to the lower limit,
At the time when the pressing operation is stopped, the number displayed on the display unit is set as a set value to set washing conditions such as washing time and amount of water.

As a result, the displayed set value changes at a relatively short interval, for example, at intervals of 0.4 seconds, and the pressing operation of the set button cannot be stopped at the target set value in a timely manner. Even if the numerical value increases further, after the numerical value reaches the upper limit, the numerical value changes in the direction from the upper limit to the lower limit, so it is necessary to start the setting operation again from the display of the lower limit of “1”. Therefore, the target set value can be easily reached in a short time, and the device is easy to use.

Secondly, there is provided a setting button for setting washing conditions such as a washing time and a water amount, and a display for displaying the set washing conditions as an integer set value. Then, in the operation content setting method of the washing machine in which the display of the set value as the washing condition is changed, a predetermined numerical value is set as a dividing numerical value among the changing integer values, and the numerical value of the dividing numerical value is displayed. The display time was set longer than the display time when a numerical value other than the numerical value of the delimiter was displayed, and was set as a waiting time in which the displayed numerical value did not change.

As a result, the time during which the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed becomes longer than the display time when the numerical value other than the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed as the waiting time. The value of this delimiter is "1
If the setting is made in an easy-to-understand unit such as "0", "20", "30", etc., the pressing operation of the setting button is continued with the numerical value of this delimiter as a target. After confirming the current value, it is possible to set a finer numerical value in units of one digit, so that the target set value can be reached exactly once at a time compared to when all the values change at the same speed it can.

Third, the numerical value of the delimiter is set at a plurality of places, and the display time of the numerical value between the numerical values of the delimiter is shorter than the case where the display of the set value is changed without setting the numerical value of the delimiter. By setting and changing the display of numerical values at a high speed, the overall time required to reach the target set value can be reduced. And even in this case, since the numerical value of the delimiter is set and the waiting time is provided at the position of the numerical value of the delimiter,
It is unlikely that the vehicle will pass the target set value by mistake.

Fourthly, a notification sound is generated in synchronism with the waiting time during which the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed, so that the user is notified by sound that the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed. Notify and alert. Such notice, in particular,
It is effective for blind users.

Fifthly, when the notification sound is set at a plurality of places, the tone is set to a different tone for each of the different setting places, so that the notification sound can be obtained only by sounding.
Since the numerical value displayed at the time of the notification is known, if the number of times the setting button is pressed after the notification by the notification sound is counted, the target set value can be set without looking at the display unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a main part showing an operation panel of a washing machine in which an operation content setting method of the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a setting operation showing a first embodiment of a method for setting operation contents of a washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a setting operation showing a second embodiment of a method for setting operation contents of a washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the washing machine.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an operation panel of a washing machine in which a conventional operation content setting method is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... outer box 2 ... water tank 3
… Rotating wings 4… Washing and dewatering tank 5… Lid 6
... Operation panel 7 ... Power button 8 ... Start button 9
… Course button 10… reservation button 11… water level button 1
2 ... wash button 13 ... rinse button 14 ... dehydration button 1
5 Top cover 16 Display section 16a Set value 1
6b: display lamp 17: display section 17a: set value

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masami Yorida 1-1-1, Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba Inside Nippon Steel Corporation (72) Inventor Junji Miyoshi 1-1-1, Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba Inside Nippon Steel Corporation (72) Inventor Tetsuya Kitamura 1-1-1, Yamate, Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture Inside Nippon Steel Corporation (72) Inventor Ryo Saito 1-1-1, Yamate, Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture Japan (72) Inventor Mariko Akiba 1-1-1 Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba F-term (reference) in Japan Kensetsu Co., Ltd. MA10

Claims (5)

[Claims] A set button for setting washing conditions such as a washing time and a water amount; and a display unit for displaying the set washing conditions as an integer set value. In the method of setting the operation of a washing machine in which the display of the set value as the washing condition changes, the change in the set value changes in a direction from the lower limit to the upper limit at a predetermined interval time, and after the upper limit is reached. It changes in the direction from the upper limit value to the lower limit value at a predetermined interval time, and sets the number displayed on the display unit at the time when the pressing operation is stopped as a set value and sets washing conditions such as washing time, water amount and the like. How to set the operation content of the washing machine. 2. A setting button for setting washing conditions such as a washing time and an amount of water, and a display unit for displaying the set washing conditions as an integer set value. In the method of setting the operation of a washing machine in which the display of a set value as a washing condition changes, a predetermined numerical value is set as a delimiting value among the changing integer values, and a display time when the delimiting numerical value is displayed. Is set to be longer than the display time when a value other than the delimiter value is displayed, and the waiting time is such that the displayed value does not change. 3. The numerical value of the delimiter is set at a plurality of places, and the display time of the numerical value between the numerical values of the delimiter is set shorter than the case where the display of the set value is changed without setting the numerical value of the delimiter. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the numerical display is changed at a high speed. 4. The operation of the washing machine according to claim 2, wherein an alarm sound is generated in synchronization with the waiting time when the numerical value of the delimiter is displayed. Content setting method. 5. The method for setting the operation content of a washing machine according to claim 4, wherein, when the number of divisions is set at a plurality of positions, the notification sound is set to a different tone for each set position. .