JP2015231449A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine which prevents erroneous detection of touch type key input in a normal mode, and which can operate a service mode only when a specific condition is established.SOLUTION: In a washing machine including a control panel in a housing for accommodating a washing tub, the control panel includes a plurality of touch type keys and a plurality of mechanical type switches, and only in the case where a specific combination of the plurality of mechanical type switches are pressed simultaneously, the washing machine shifts to an operation for permitting simultaneous pressing of the touch type keys. Then, in the case where the specific combination of the plurality of mechanical type switches are not pressed simultaneously, the simultaneous pressing of the touch type keys is not permitted.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine including a touch-type key display operation unit.

  As operation input means of washing machines, those using mechanical switches are the mainstream, but those adopting a touch panel have been introduced.

  In order to ensure operability, the operation panel of the washing machine is generally arranged near the upper front of the main body. For this reason, the liquid containing the detergent liquid tends to adhere to the operation panel. Moreover, the act of temporarily placing the laundry taken out after the laundry on the operation panel can often occur.

  In a touch panel that employs a capacitance method, if a liquid such as a detergent solution adhering to the panel surface adheres or an object is placed on the touch panel, it may be erroneously detected as a touch input, which may cause a malfunction.

  On the other hand, the mechanical switch is less likely to cause erroneous input detection as described above. However, in a model that employs a touch panel, the number of mechanical switches that can be mounted is generally limited.

  In order to prevent a malfunction in a washing machine employing the touch panel as described above, a device such as Patent Document 1 has been devised.

JP 2014-14586 A

  In Patent Document 1, an operation start is instructed by operating a mechanical switch provided separately from the touch panel to prevent operation due to malfunction.

  By the way, in addition to the normal mode used by general users, the washing machine is provided with a service mode used by maintenance personnel. In such a service mode, a single key input is used instead of a single key input. In many cases, the functions are activated by pressing them simultaneously. This is to prevent a general user from inadvertently operating the service mode, which is a maintenance function, inadvertently.

  However, Patent Document 1 does not consider preventing erroneous detection of simultaneous pressing of a plurality of keys on the touch panel.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that prevents erroneous detection of touch-type key input in the normal mode and that can operate the service mode only when a specific condition is satisfied.

  The present invention includes an operation panel in a housing for storing a washing tub, the operation panel includes a plurality of touch keys and a plurality of mechanical switches, and simultaneously presses a specific combination of the plurality of mechanical switches. Only in the case, the operation is shifted to the operation of permitting simultaneous pressing of the touch-type keys.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of touch-type key input by prohibiting simultaneous pressing of a plurality of touch-type keys in the normal mode, and to provide means for allowing simultaneous pressing of a plurality of touch-type keys. Only when a specific condition is satisfied, a service mode that requires simultaneous pressing of a plurality of keys can be operated.

It is an appearance perspective view showing a washing machine concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the operation panel which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of a control part concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the simultaneous press permission determination process which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following, a washing machine capable of performing vertical washing, rinsing, dehydration, and drying (so-called vertical washing and drying machine) will be described as an example, but drum-type washing, rinsing, dehydration, For various washing machines such as a washing machine that can perform drying (so-called drum-type washing and drying machine) and a washing machine that can perform vertical washing, rinsing and dehydration (so-called fully automatic washing machine) Can be applied.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In addition, below, it demonstrates on the basis of the direction when the washing machine 100 is seen from the front.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine 100 is configured to include a housing 110 and a washing tub 120 provided in the housing 110.

  The casing 110 is configured by combining a steel plate and a resin molded product with an outer shell, and a base 111, a front plate 112, a rear plate 113, left and right side plates 114, and a top cover 115 (supporting the whole). An upper plate), and is configured in a substantially square box shape.

  The top cover 115 is formed with an opening 115 a for putting laundry into the washing tub 120. The opening 115a is formed in a substantially semicircular shape in a top view (plan view), and is configured such that a straight line portion is located on the back side and a curved line portion is located on the near side. The opening 115a has an upper end surface 115b extending outward in the radial direction and a peripheral surface 115c extending downward in the vertical direction.

  Further, on the front side of the top cover 115, an operation panel 116 for setting an operation course and displaying an operation state, a detergent charging case 117 for charging detergent (solid, liquid), a finishing agent, and the like, Is provided. The operation panel 116 is formed in a horizontally long rectangular shape on the front side of the opening 115a. The detergent charging case 117 is provided adjacent to the left side of the operation panel 116.

  The operation panel 116 includes various operation buttons composed of mechanical switches 201 to 203 and touch keys 204 to 217 and a display 220, and includes a microcomputer 381 (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) of a control unit 316 provided inside the housing 110. (Refer to FIG. 3).

  The detergent charging case 117 is formed in a substantially triangular shape in a top view (plan view), and includes a container part 118 (see FIG. 7) and a lid part 119. The lid portion 119 includes a square-shaped surface 119a (second surface) adjacent to the surface 116a of the operation panel 116 and a substantially triangular-shaped surface 119b when viewed from the rear of the surface 119a. Yes. Further, the height of the surface 119b is formed lower than that of the surface 119a.

  Further, the surface 116a of the operation panel 116 and the surface 119a which is a part of the lid portion 119 are flush with each other, and are configured to be a rectangular flat surface elongated in the left-right direction as a whole. In addition, the surface 119b of the lid 119 is configured to be flush with the upper end surface 115b and the peripheral surface 115c of the opening 115a.

  The top cover 115 is provided with an outer lid 130 (lid) that opens and closes the opening 115a. The outer lid 130 is formed in a substantially square shape including a single plate material, and has a surface area (plane) that can cover the entire opening 115a from above. Further, the rear end of the outer lid 130 is supported so as to be rotatable about the left-right direction as an axial direction. Thus, the outer lid 130 of the present embodiment is not a bi-fold type outer lid that is opened while being bent in a mountain shape.

  The top cover 115 has edge portions 115d and 115d (first surface) extending in the front-rear direction on both left and right sides of the opening 115a. The distance L1 between the edge portion 115d and the edge portion 115d is shorter than the lateral width (length in the left-right direction) W1 of the outer lid 130.

  Further, the surface 116a (second surface) of the operation panel 116 and the surface 119a (second surface) of the lid portion 119 are lower than the edges 115d and 115d (first surface) (lower in the vertical direction). Position). That is, the height of the second surface is set to substantially the same height as the upper end edge of the opening 115a of the top cover 115, in other words, a position lower by the thickness of the user's hand from the first surface.

  The washing machine 100 is configured such that when the outer lid 130 is closed, almost the entire operation panel 116 and the surface 119a (a part of the surface) of the lid portion 119 of the detergent case 117 are exposed. Yes. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the operation by the operation panel 116 from being damaged when the outer lid 130 is closed. Further, since the detergent case 117 can be arranged in front of the washing machine 100, it becomes easy to put the detergents. In addition, it is possible to secure a wide room for the detergent and the softener in the detergent case 117 without being obstructed by the opening 115a.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operation panel.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 116 includes an operation unit 200 and a display unit 230. The operation unit 200 includes mechanical (push-down) switches 202 to 203, a power switch 201, and touch keys 204 to 217.

  The operation unit 200 includes mechanical switches 202 to 203, a power switch 201, and touch keys 204 to 217. For example, the operation unit 200 sets operating conditions. Note that the operating conditions are set for operation courses such as a washing course for washing only, a washing / drying course from washing to drying, a drying course for drying only, a washing time during washing, the number of rinses, Detailed conditions are set for each operation course, such as dehydration time, drying condition during drying or drying, and reservation time.

  The display unit 230 displays the function, time, and other conditions set by the operation unit 200 and the remaining operation time by lighting the light emitting diode.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the controller 316 of the washing machine of this embodiment. A microcomputer 381 is connected to a mechanical switch input circuit 382 connected to each mechanical switch (not shown), a touch key input circuit 388 connected to each touch key, a water level sensor 327, and a temperature sensor 340. Various information signals are received in the user's button operation, washing process, and drying process. The output from the microcomputer 381 is connected to a drive circuit 383 and connected to a water supply electromagnetic valve 317, a drain valve 345, a drive motor 324, a blower fan 337, a heater 338, an electromagnetic operation clutch 325, a lock means 309, etc. Controls opening and closing, rotation, and energization. Further, it is connected to a display 384 such as a 7-segment light emitting diode, a buzzer 385, and a light emitting diode 387 for informing the user of the operating state of the washing machine. The microcomputer 381 is activated when the power switch 201 is pressed and the power is turned on, and executes the simultaneous pressing permission determination process shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing simultaneous pressing permission determination processing according to the present embodiment.

  Step S401 Immediately after the power is turned on and activated, it is determined whether a specific mechanical switch is pressed simultaneously with the power switch. If the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to S402, and if not, the process proceeds to S403. In other words, the simultaneous pressing of the power switch and the specific mechanical switch when the power is turned on is a condition for permitting simultaneous pressing of the touch-type keys. Here, the specific mechanical switch is, for example, the mechanical switch 203 in FIG.

  Step S402: Proceed to S404 as a setting for permitting the simultaneous pressing of a plurality of touch keys.

  Step S403: Proceed to S404 as a setting that does not permit simultaneous pressing of touch-type keys.

  Step S404 Wait for key input for operation, and if there is input, proceed to S405.

  Step S405: Regarding key input, it is determined whether a plurality of touch-type keys are pressed simultaneously. If the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to S406, and if not, the process proceeds to S408.

  Step S406: It is determined whether or not it is set to permit a plurality of touch-type keys to be pressed simultaneously. If the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to S407. If not, the process returns to S404 and waits for key input.

  Step S407 Since a plurality of touch-type keys are simultaneously pressed, the corresponding process is started.

  Step S408: A process corresponding to the single pressing of the touch key is started.

  Step S409: It is determined whether the power is turned off. If the condition is satisfied, the power is turned off. If not, step S408 activates a process corresponding to a single press of a touch-type key.

  As described above, in the normal mode, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of touch-type key input by prohibiting simultaneous pressing of a plurality of touch-type keys and to provide means for allowing simultaneous pressing of a plurality of touch-type keys. Only when a specific condition is satisfied, a service mode that requires simultaneous pressing of a plurality of keys can be made operable.

  In the present embodiment, an example of a vertical washing machine has been described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a drum type washing machine.

  In the present embodiment, an example has been given in which a plurality of touch-type keys need to be pressed simultaneously as a service mode. However, the service mode operation can be similarly applied even when a single key is pressed.

  In the present embodiment, as an example of the condition for permitting simultaneous pressing of a plurality of touch-type keys, an example in which a power switch and another specific mechanical switch are simultaneously pressed when the power is turned on has been described. It is good also as a structure which pushes a mechanical switch simultaneously.

100 Washing machine 110 Housing 115 Top cover (upper plate)
115a Opening 115d Edge (first surface)
116 Operation panel 116a Surface (second surface)
117 Detergent input case 118 Container portion 119a Surface (second surface)
120 Washing tub 130 Outer lid (lid)
140 Glass plate 150 Base plate 160 Handle 200 Operation unit 230 Display unit 201-203 Mechanical switch 204-217 Touch key 316 Control unit

Claims (2)

An operation panel is provided on the housing that houses the washing tub,
The operation panel is
With multiple touch keys and multiple mechanical switches,
Only when a specific combination of multiple mechanical switches is pressed simultaneously
A washing machine characterized by shifting to an operation that allows simultaneous pressing of touch-type keys. If you do not press a specific combination of multiple mechanical switches at the same time,
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein simultaneous pressing of touch-type keys is not permitted.