JP2014045837A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine which can be surely operated even when it is installed in a severe condition such as a noisy environment.SOLUTION: The washing machine includes: control means 51 for controlling washing courses; storage means 52 for storing control information by the control means 51; and radio communication means 53 for radio communication with a mobile terminal 57. The control means 51 postpones a washing operation when an abnormality occurs in the radio communication means 53 before operating of the washing machine until the abnormality is eliminated, and continues the present operation of the washing machine 29 when an abnormality occurs in the radio communication means 53 during a washing operation. It is possible to provide a convenient device in which radio transmission/reception means operates without causing troubles to an original operation of the washing machine.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine that can communicate with a terminal device.

  As a device to be controlled by a program, for example, a washing machine that performs program control of a series of steps of washing, rinsing, and dewatering is configured as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Hereinafter, this configuration will be described. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional washing machine control system, FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram of the washing machine, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of an operation unit of the washing machine.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the washing machine 29 includes a housing 3 configured in a substantially rectangular shape. Inside the housing 3, a water receiving tub configured in a substantially cylindrical shape and a washing and dewatering tub configured in a substantially cylindrical shape are enclosed. The water receiving tub is provided with a motor 8 for rotating the washing / dehydrating tub. The motor 8 is a DC brushless motor.

  The motor 8 is driven by an inverter circuit 15 as shown in FIG. 7, and the inverter circuit 15 has six switching elements 16A to 16F, and each switching element 16A to 16F includes a power transistor, a reverse conducting diode, and the like. Each has a parallel circuit constituted by. The power supply 17 supplies a voltage to the inverter circuit 15 through a DC power supply conversion device configured by a diode bridge 18, a choke coil 19, and a smoothing capacitor 20. The power supply 17 also supplies a voltage to a pump, a water supply valve 11, a drain valve 12, and a power conversion mechanism 9 (not shown). The motor 8 is provided with three position detectors 21. Each position detector 21 detects the rotational position of the motor 8.

  The control unit 40 includes a rotation control unit 23, and the rotation control unit 23 controls the drive circuit 24 based on the rotation position of the motor 8 detected by each position detector 21. The drive circuit 24 drives the inverter circuit 15 based on an instruction from the rotation control unit 23.

  The operation unit 37 includes an input unit 26 that inputs a washing time, the number of times of rinsing, a dehydration time, and the like, and a display unit 27 that displays the washing time, the number of times of rinsing, the dehydration time, and the like input to the input unit 26. As shown in FIG. 8, the input unit 26 includes an operation unit 37, a washing time setting switch 26a for setting a washing time, a rinse number setting switch 26b for setting the number of rinses, a dehydration time setting switch 26c for setting a dehydration time, A drying time setting switch button 26d for setting a drying time, a start / pause switch 26e, a power-on switch 36f, and a power-off switch 26g are provided. Further, the display unit 27 includes a washing time display unit 27a, a rinse count display unit 27b, a dehydration time display unit 27c, a drying time display unit 27d, and the like.

  In addition, the input unit 26 selects a driving course selection switch 26h for selecting one of a plurality of basic driving courses and special driving courses, and a plurality of driving course selections corresponding to each of the plurality of basic driving courses and special driving courses. And a display unit 27e. Here, the special operation course is set by correcting the washing time, the number of times of rinsing, and the dehydration time input to the input unit 26, respectively.

  The control unit 22 controls the drive circuit 24 and the load drive unit 25 to execute a series of washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes based on the special operation course set by the input unit 26.

  Furthermore, the washing machine 29 has an operation unit 37 and a device-side transmission / reception means 38, and has a function of operating and displaying a setting course, an operation time of each process, and the like.

JP 2005-034179 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, the power source is very likely to be affected by noise generated from other devices, and if the data transmission / reception unit is arranged in the operation display unit, it is easy to arrange it. However, there is a problem that data may be affected during communication, and data may not be transmitted or received correctly.

  Also, depending on the position where the product is installed, the disturbance situation such as noise greatly varies, and there is a possibility of causing an abnormality.

  The special environment where information cannot be exchanged may not be zero, and depending on the judgment of abnormality, it becomes a problem that operation such as driving becomes impossible, and in such a state it is equipped with a precious transmission / reception function Nevertheless, it becomes a function that has no meaning at all.

  Furthermore, in a function that is not easy to use, the user does not use the function, and as described above, the function becomes completely meaningless.

  Functionally, when the operation stops, the user cannot restore the operation and it is not good that the abnormal state continues.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, can be sure to operate the installed transmission / reception function in a program-controlled device such as a washing machine, to prevent malfunction, and even in the event of an abnormality, The purpose is to improve usability, such as maintaining the basic performance of the product.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a control means for controlling a washing course, a storage means for storing control information by the control means, and a wireless transmission / reception means for performing wireless communication with a portable terminal. When the abnormality occurs in the wireless transmission / reception means before the washing operation, the washing operation is postponed until the abnormality is resolved, and when the abnormality occurs in the wireless transmission / reception means during the washing operation, the current operation of the washing machine It is a washing machine characterized by continuing.

  As a result, even if the installed environment is a severe situation such as noise, it is possible to check the transmission / reception function while reliably operating the washing machine, so as not to cause a malfunction, and to improve usability.

  Even if the installed environment is a severe situation such as noise, it is possible to check the transmission / reception function while operating the washing machine with certainty so as not to cause a malfunction, thereby improving usability.

The figure showing the washing machine communication system in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Circuit block diagram of the washing machine The figure which shows the operation example of the power-on / off means of the power supply circuit Operation flowchart of the washing machine The figure which shows the example of abnormality confirmation of the radio | wireless communication means of the washing machine Perspective view of conventional washing machine control system Block diagram of the washing machine An enlarged front view of the operation unit of the washing machine

The washing machine of the present invention, a control means for controlling the washing course,
Storage means for storing control information by the control means;
Wireless transmission / reception means for wireless communication with a mobile terminal;
When an abnormality occurs in the wireless transmission / reception means before the washing operation, the control means postpones the washing operation until the abnormality is resolved, and when an abnormality occurs in the wireless transmission / reception means during the washing operation, The current operation is continued.

  As a result, the wireless transmission / reception means operates without hindering the original operation of the washing machine, and a user-friendly device can be provided.

  In the above configuration, the power supply circuit of the control unit of the washing machine and the power supply circuit of the wireless transmission / reception unit are separated from each other, and when an abnormality occurs in the wireless transmission / reception unit, the power supply circuit of the wireless transmission / reception unit is turned off. It is good as well.

  As a result, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use device that can recover its operation even under the influence of external noise or the like.

  In the above configuration, when the abnormality of the wireless transmission / reception means is recovered, the power supply circuit of the wireless transmission / reception means may be turned on after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  Thereby, a malfunctioning operation can be prevented.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a washing machine communication system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The washing machine communication system of the present invention includes a washing machine 29 which is an electric device, a portable terminal 57, and a server 100. The washing machine 29 and the portable terminal 57 are devices that can communicate with a reader / writer by RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) or NFC (Near Field Communication).

  The washing machine 29 communicates with the portable terminal 57 using short-range wireless communication via wireless communication means 53 such as a loop antenna mounted on the washing machine 29.

  The washing machine includes a washing / drying unit 30, a control unit 51, a storage unit 52, a wireless communication unit 53, a first power circuit 54, a power on / off unit 55, and a second power circuit 56.

The washing / drying means 30 realizes functions of washing, rinsing, dehydration, and drying. The washing / drying means 30 includes a motor for rotating the washing tub, a water supply valve for adjusting the amount of water supply, a drain valve for draining, a circulation pump for circulating the wash water (detergent water, rinse water), and a washing machine for washing the bath water 29 A pass pump used for drawing in, a heater for generating hot air for drying, a sending fan for circulating the pump, and the like.

  The control means 51 controls the operation of the washing machine 29 via the washing / drying means 30. The control unit 51 stores information in the storage unit 52 and reads information from the storage unit 52. The storage means 52 stores various information such as the operating state of the washing machine 29, the type of detergent, and setting information of favorite courses. The wireless communication unit 53 performs wireless communication with the mobile terminal 57 and is configured by a loop antenna or the like. The first power supply circuit 54 is for operating these means. The second power supply circuit supplies power to the wireless communication means 53. That is, a second power supply circuit 56 different from the first power supply circuit 54 is provided for the power supply dedicated to the wireless communication means 53. The power on / off means 55 determines whether or not to supply the power of the second power circuit 56 to the wireless communication means 53 by a signal from the control means 51.

  The mobile terminal 57 is composed of a communication device such as a mobile phone, for example, and is equipped with a wireless communication means 58. The portable terminal 57 communicates with the washing machine 29 using short-range wireless communication via the wireless communication means 58 and is communicably connected to the server 100 via the network 200 (communication network). The portable terminal 57 may be any device provided with a reader / writer capable of communicating with the RFID or NFC of the washing machine 29, but a portable device is more preferable.

  The server 100 is configured by a known server computer or the like, and is communicably connected to the mobile terminal 57 via the network 200.

  Next, a series of operations will be described.

  NFC and the like are often used as communication means in recent years, and are widely used as short-range communication. In the case of the washing machine 29, it is true that there are many indoor places where the washing machine 29 is installed, but it is not uncommon for the washing machine 29 to be installed outdoors. In addition, in the case of a home near a power tower or repeater of an electric power company, it can easily be affected by noise from the power tower or the like, or jamming radio waves.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when washing is the object of the product, and the operation of the wireless communication unit 53 becomes unstable due to the influence of noise or the like, the washing machine 29 is operating before and during operation. The following measures are taken. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation example of the power on / off means of the power circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the case before the washing operation is a state where no washing is performed, and the basic performance is the state from now. In this case, the operation of the wireless communication means 53 that is abnormal is performed in the direction corresponding to that time.

  Therefore, if any abnormality occurs in the wireless communication means 53 before the washing / drying operation, the power supply to the wireless transmission / reception means is cut off in order to return the operation of the wireless communication means 53 to normal. First, the control means 51 sends a signal to the power on / off means 55 to stop the power supply from the second power supply circuit 56 to the wireless communication means 53. In this state, the power of the wireless communication means 53 is turned off until a predetermined time A (for example, 500 mS) elapses. Therefore, it is possible to supply power to the wireless communication means 53 in a state that is surely in the initial state. At this time, the operation of the washing machine is not started immediately but is postponed even if an instruction to start the operation is given by the user.

Thereafter, the control means 51 sends a signal to the power on / off means 55, and power supply is started.
Since the wireless communication means 53 to which power is supplied is in a reset state, it can operate normally. As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless communication means 53 is normalized by turning off the power of the wireless communication means 53 once and then turning it on after a predetermined time.

  Next, the case during the washing operation will be described.

  When the washing machine 29 is operating, it is necessary to continue the original purpose, so the operation is not stopped or postponed. Therefore, the operation is performed in the driving state as before the washing operation.

  In other words, if any abnormality occurs in the wireless communication means 53 during the washing operation, the washing / drying means 30 is only supplied with power from the second power supply circuit 56 while being supplied with power from the first power supply circuit 54. Is done.

  Here, since the control means 51 can recognize whether or not the washing machine 29 is operating, when the wireless communication means 53 is turned on, the control means 51 can send a signal to the power on / off means 55. it can. The power on / off means 55 receives the signal from the control means 51 and supplies the power of the second power supply circuit 56 to the wireless communication means 53. On the contrary, when the power is turned off, the supply is stopped by the power on / off means 55.

  The operation so far will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  First, in step S10, the control means 51 confirms whether or not the washing machine 29 is operating. If it is determined that the operation is not being performed (NO in step S10), it is confirmed in step S20 whether the wireless communication unit 53 is abnormal. If it is normal (NO in step S20), it returns to the state in step S10 and waits for the operation start of the washing machine 29.

  If the wireless communication means 53 is abnormal (YES in step S20), the control means 51 sends a signal to the power on / off means 55 in step S21 to turn off the power of the wireless communication means 53.

  In step S10, when the operation of the washing machine 29 is started (YES in step S10), the process proceeds to step S11, and it is confirmed whether or not the wireless communication unit 53 is normal. If it is abnormal (NO in step S11), the process proceeds to step S30, and it is confirmed whether or not the power of the wireless communication means 53 is turned off. That is, in step S30, it is confirmed whether the power-off process has already been continued for a predetermined time. If the wireless communication means 53 is off (YES in step S30), the elapse of a predetermined time is confirmed in step S31. The predetermined time at this time is, for example, 500 mS. If the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in step S31), the process proceeds to step S13. If the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in step S31), a signal is sent from the control means 51 to the power on / off means 55 in step S32 to turn on the power, and the process proceeds to step S13.

  If it is determined in step S30 that the wireless communication means 53 is not turned off (NO in step S30), the process proceeds to step S40. In step S40, a signal is sent from the control means 51 to the power on / off means 55 in order to turn off the power, and the power supply of the wireless communication means 53 is stopped. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S13.

If the wireless communication means 53 in step S11 is normal (YES in step S11), the timer for a predetermined time (500 mS) is reset in step S12, and the process proceeds to the next step step S13.

In step S13, the operation of the washing machine 29 is continued.
Steps S10 to S13 are flows when the operation of the washing machine 29 is started, steps S20 to S22 are flows when the operation of the washing machine 29 is not started, and steps S30 to S32 are steps of the washing machine 29. In step S40, the wireless communication means 53 is not normal and the power is turned on (the abnormality is found this time). It is a flow of the state which was done.

  Here, an example will be given as confirmation of the abnormal state of the wireless communication means 53. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an abnormality confirmation example of the wireless communication unit of the washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  When the control means 51 sends a signal to the wireless communication means 53 and a signal is returned from the wireless communication means 53 within a predetermined time, it is determined that the wireless communication means 53 is normal. If the signal is not returned from the wireless communication means 53 even if the control means 51 sends a signal, it is determined that the wireless communication means 53 is in an abnormal state. Further, in determining an abnormality, the accuracy is improved by determining an abnormality by a plurality of confirmations instead of determining an abnormality by one abnormality as described above.

  The operation of the storage means 52 will be described. The information obtained from the portable terminal is received by the wireless communication means 53, and the control means 51 that has received the information causes the storage means 52 to store the information. The storage unit 52 stores information representing the content received by the wireless communication unit 53. Further, the control means 51 performs program control of a series of steps of washing, rinsing, and dehydration based on the contents information stored in the storage means 52.

  By providing the wireless communication means 53, various washing patterns can be created for the user and sent to the washing machine 29 side in one action. Therefore, in recent years, for each user (for example, father, mother, eldest son, With the increasing number of households that are divided and washed by the eldest daughter, etc., it is possible to eliminate the trouble of setting the conditions one by one, and the workability and usability can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the portable terminal 57 sets the contents of the program executed by the washing machine 29 and represents the contents of this program without being adversely affected by power supply noise or other devices. Information can be transmitted to the wireless communication means 53 by a smooth one-action operation, and the washing machine 29 receives information representing the contents of the program transmitted from the portable terminal by the wireless communication means 53, and represents the contents of the program. Is stored in the storage means 52, and the program is controlled by the control means 51 on the basis of the information representing the contents of the program stored in the storage means 52, so that the portable terminal is washed, rinsed, and dehydrated. By setting, it can be transferred to the washing machine 29 and operated.

  Further, the storage means 52 can store even when the power is turned off. As a result, the washing machine 29 can perform the operation set by the portable terminal.

  In particular, when the portable terminal and the washing machine 29 are connected by a wireless network, the portable terminal and the washing machine 29 are often installed at a remote location. It is very efficient that it can be operated only by the washing machine 29.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the portable terminal and the washing machine 29 are connected by a wireless network, but they may be connected by infrared rays or Bluetooth.

  In addition, although the said Example demonstrated the Example in case the apparatus controlled by a program is the washing machine 29, the apparatus controlled by a program is not limited to the washing machine 29, Program control is performed using a microcomputer. Anything can be used, and similar actions and effects can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present invention, it has control means for controlling a washing course, storage means for storing control information by the control means, and wireless transmission / reception means for wireless communication with a portable terminal,
When an abnormality occurs in the wireless transmission / reception means before the washing machine operation, the control means postpones the operation of the washing machine until the abnormality is resolved, and the wireless transmission / reception means operates abnormally during the operation of the washing machine. If this happens, the current operation of the washing machine is continued, so that even if the wireless communication means is affected by external noise or the like, the malfunction can be reliably avoided without affecting the washing operation. Provide usable functions.

  In the above configuration, the power supply circuit of the control means of the washing machine and the power supply circuit of the wireless transmission / reception means are separate systems, and when an abnormality occurs in the wireless transmission / reception means, the power supply circuit of the wireless transmission / reception means may be turned off. Good.

  As a result, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use device that can recover its operation even under the influence of external noise or the like.

  In the above configuration, when the abnormality of the wireless transmission / reception means is recovered, the power supply circuit of the wireless transmission / reception means may be turned on after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  Thereby, a malfunctioning operation can be prevented.

  As described above, the washing machine of the present invention has a function that can be used by the user without failing the washing operation without affecting the washing operation even if the wireless communication means is affected by external noise or the like. Since it can be provided, it is useful for electric devices such as washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, and microwave ovens.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 29 Washing machine 30 Washing and drying means 51 Control means 52 Storage means 53 Wireless communication means 54 First power supply circuit 55 Power supply on / off means 56 Second power supply circuit 57 Portable terminal 58 Wireless communication means 100 Server

Claims (3)

Control means for controlling the washing course;
Storage means for storing control information by the control means;
Wireless transmission / reception means for wireless communication with a mobile terminal;
When an abnormality occurs in the wireless transmission / reception means before the washing operation, the control means postpones the washing operation until the abnormality is resolved, and when an abnormality occurs in the wireless transmission / reception means during the washing operation, A washing machine characterized by continued operation. The laundry according to claim 1, wherein the power supply circuit of the control means and the power supply circuit of the wireless transmission / reception means are provided as separate systems, and the power supply circuit of the wireless transmission / reception means is turned off when an abnormality occurs in the wireless transmission / reception means. Machine. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein when the abnormality of the wireless transmission / reception means is recovered, the power supply circuit of the wireless transmission / reception means is turned on after a predetermined time has elapsed.