JP2020099459A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To disclose a washing machine capable of achieving an optimal voice control depending on a degree of contamination and type of laundry.SOLUTION: A voice recognition means 1 analyzes a voice signal relating to contamination and material of laundry, which are input by a user to a voice input means 2 consisting of a microphone and the like, by a voice analyzing means 3, extracts terms and determines the state of the laundry using a comparison means 7 to compare the extracted term and a term that is previously registered in a determination storage means 4. A control method determination means 8 determines a washing method based on the determination result. A washing machine control means 9 can improve a washing quality by achieving an optimal washing control depending on a degree of contamination and type of the laundry with the voice of the user without a complicate operation by the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine that automatically controls washing, rinsing, and dehydration.

Conventionally, a washing machine of this type has a structure that has a voice recognition means and can be operated by voice (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional washing machine, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of voice recognition means of the washing machine.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, when the laundry is put in the washing tub 101 to make a reservation for the washing start time and the like by voice, when the user utters the washing start time by voice, the voice input means 111 outputs this voice. Upon receiving the signal, the voice signal is sent to the voice recognition means 112.

The voice recognition unit 112 analyzes and determines the input voice signal and outputs it from the determination unit 116 to the reservation content storage unit 110. The control means 107 compares the current time measured by the time measuring means 106 with the reservation time stored in the reservation content storage means 110, and starts washing when the reservation time comes.

In washing, the control unit 107 controls the motor 104, the water supply valve 108, and the drain valve 109 according to a predetermined washing process, using the time from the time counting unit 106 as an input.

When the water supply valve 108 is turned on, water is supplied, and when the drain valve 109 is turned on, water is discharged. The ON/OFF operation of the motor 104 is transmitted to the stirring means 103 by the belt 105. The stirring means 103 stirs the laundry and water to wash. That is, the laundry is carried out in accordance with the user's voice reservation instruction.

JP-A-6-7577

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the operability is slightly simplified by making a voice reservation of the laundry start time by operating the switch with a finger so far. There is a problem that the operation display unit becomes complicated if it is not possible to control the driving by recognizing it.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides a washing machine that can realize optimal control according to the dirt and type of laundry by a user's voice without complicating the operation display portion of the washing machine. The purpose is to do.

In order to solve the above conventional problems, the washing machine of the present invention has an operation display unit having an input setting unit for setting a driving course and the like, and a display unit for displaying the input setting information, and a voice by a user. A voice recognition means for processing data and a washing machine control means for sequentially controlling a series of steps such as washing, rinsing and dehydrating are provided, and the voice recognition means is used by a voice input means constituted by a microphone or the like. By analyzing a voice signal regarding stains, materials, etc. of a laundry by a person by a voice analysis means to extract words, and comparing the extracted words with the words registered in advance in the judgment storage means by the comparison means. The state of the laundry is determined, the control method determining means determines the washing method based on the determination result, and the washing machine control means executes the washing method.

As a result, it is possible to realize optimal control according to the dirt and type of the laundry by the voice of the user without making the operation display unit of the washing machine complicated.

The washing machine of the present invention can realize optimal control according to the stain and the type of the laundry by the voice of the user without making the operation display section of the washing machine complicated.

Longitudinal sectional view of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Block diagram of main parts of the washing machine Block diagram of essential parts in a second embodiment of the present invention Block diagram of essential parts in a third embodiment of the present invention Typical cross-sectional view of a conventional washing machine Block diagram of voice recognition means of the washing machine

A first invention is an operation display unit having an input setting unit for setting a driving course and the like, and a display unit for displaying the input setting information, a voice recognition unit for processing voice data by a user, and a washing unit, A washing machine control means for sequentially controlling a series of steps such as rinsing and dehydration, wherein the voice recognition means is a voice inputting means composed of a microphone, etc. The signal is analyzed by voice analysis means to extract words, and the comparison means compares the extracted words with the words registered in advance in the judgment storage means to judge the state of the laundry and determine the control method. The means determines the washing method based on the result of the determination, and the washing machine control means sets the washing machine to execute the washing method so as not to make the operation display section of the washing machine complicated and to wash the laundry. Optimal washing control according to dirt and type can be realized by the voice of the user, and washing quality can be improved.

In a second aspect of the present invention, in particular, the judgment storage means of the first aspect is provided in an external storage medium connected to an external communication network, and the voice recognition means extracts the voice signal from the user by a voice analysis means. The determined word determines the state of the laundry by comparing the word registered in advance in the determination storage means obtained via the transmission/reception unit, and the control method determination means determines the laundry method based on the determination result. By determining that the washing machine is a washing machine that executes the washing method, the washing machine control means performs the optimal washing control according to the stain and the type of the laundry without complicating the operation display portion of the washing machine. This can be realized by the user's voice, and more new words such as new functional materials and brand names of clothes can be added each time, so that the washing quality can be further improved.

In a third aspect of the invention, in particular, the voice recognition means including the voice input means, the voice analysis means, the determination storage means, and the comparison means of the first invention is provided in an external terminal device, and The terminal device includes the control method determining unit and the terminal transmitting/receiving unit, communicates with the washing machine via the transmitting/receiving unit provided in the washing machine to determine the washing method, and the washing machine controlling unit uses the washing method. By implementing a washing machine that does not require the operation display of the washing machine to be complicated, optimal washing control according to the dirt and type of laundry can be realized by the voice of the user, improving the washing quality. In addition, the development can be performed at low cost by reducing the additional elements to the washing machine.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
In the first embodiment, a vertical washing machine will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of main parts of the washing machine.

In FIG. 1, a pulsator 42 is rotatably arranged at a central bottom portion of a washing/dehydrating tub 41, and the washing/dehydrating tub 41 is rotatably included in a water tub 43. A substrate 44 is fixed to the outer bottom of the water tank 43, and the outer edge of the substrate 44 is suspended from the upper corner of the outer frame 45 via a vibration isolator 46.

The motor 48 provided at the bottom of the substrate 44 is adapted to transmit its rotational force to the pulsator 42 or the washing/dehydrating tub 41 via the belt 49 and the mechanism driving unit 50 so as to be rotationally driven.

A drain valve 52 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 43, and the water in the water tank 43 is drained to the outside through a drain hose 53 by opening and closing the drain valve 52.

Further, an air trap 55 is formed below the outer peripheral wall of the water tank 43 and is connected to a water level detecting means 57 composed of a pressure sensor or the like by an air pipe 56, and the water pressure of the washing water supplied to the inside of the water tank 43 is used. It is possible to detect multiple levels of water level.

A water supply valve 59 is provided inside the rear portion of the upper frame body 58 disposed on the upper portion of the outer frame 45, and the supplied tap water is supplied into the washing and dehydrating tub 41.

A lid 60 for loading and unloading laundry is provided at an approximately central portion of the upper frame 58 so as to be openable and closable, and an input setting means (not shown) for setting a driving course is provided at a front portion. And an operation display section 61 having display means (not shown) for displaying the input setting information and the like, and a washing machine control means 9 is provided inside the operation display section 61.

Further, in the upper frame 58, a voice input means 2 including a microphone or the like for receiving a voice uttered by the user is provided. The voice input means 2 and the voice analysis means 3 (see FIG. 2) are the main elements of the voice recognition means 1 (see FIG. 2), and the voice recognition means 1 will be described in detail from FIG. 2 onward.

In FIG. 2, a voice recognition unit 1 is a voice input unit 2 formed of a microphone or the like, a voice analysis unit 3 for analyzing a word of a voice signal input by a user, a dirt registering words related to dirt such as mud and soy sauce. The laundry including the determination storage means 5, the laundry determination storage means 6 in which words relating to the type of laundry to be washed such as cotton, fashionable clothes, and stuffed animals are registered, the stain determination storage means 5 and the laundry determination storage means 6 described above The main element is a comparison unit 7 that compares the words registered in the judgment storage unit 4 and the words stored in the judgment storage unit 4 with the words stored in the judgment storage unit 4 and the voice analysis unit 3, and outputs the comparison result.

Then, the control method determination unit 8 determines the optimum washing machine control method from the result output from the comparison unit 7, and the washing machine control unit 9 realizes the washing machine control method determined by the control method determination unit 8. To do.

The operation and action of the washing machine configured as described above will be described below.

Before starting the operation of the washing machine, the washing machine user should check the type of dirt such as dirt on mud or soy sauce, or the material of clothes such as cotton or hemp, and sometimes the clothes to be washed such as stuffed animals and work clothes. Is confirmed by himself, and the confirmed contents are inputted by voice using the voice input means 2 constituted by a microphone or the like.

In the voice recognition means 1, the voice signal input by the user to the voice input means 2 is analyzed by the voice analysis means 3 to extract words.

By comparing the extracted words with the words registered in advance in the judgment storage means 4 by the comparison means 7, it is possible to judge what kind of laundry is. Then, based on the determination result, the control method determination means 8 automatically determines the conditions relating to the washing control such as the rotation speed of the washing/dehydrating tub 41 and the water amount, and based on the conditions, the washing machine control means 9 causes the laundry to be washed. Execute the washing with the most suitable washing method according to.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the voice recognizing unit 1 uses the voice analyzing unit to input the voice signal, which is input to the voice input unit 2 including a microphone or the like, regarding the stain or material of the laundry by the user. 3, the words are extracted by analysis, and the extracted words and the words registered in advance in the judgment storage means 4 are compared by the comparison means 7 to judge the state of the laundry, and the control method determination means 8 By determining the washing method based on the determination result and the washing machine control means 9 is configured to execute the washing method, the user can change the washing method according to the stain and the type of the laundry without performing a complicated operation. The optimum washing control can be realized by the voice of the user, and the washing quality can be improved.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of essential parts in the second embodiment. The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the overall configuration of FIG. 3, and the same parts are given the same numbers and their explanations are omitted.

In FIG. 3, a voice recognition unit 21 is a voice input unit 2 including a microphone, a voice analysis unit 3 for analyzing words of a voice signal input by a user, a comparison unit 7, a direct or indirect washing machine. The transmission/reception unit 10 that communicates with the outside is a main element.

When a word is input to the voice input means 2, a dirt determination storage means 5, which is provided in an external storage medium 11 such as a server, in which words relating to dirt such as mud and soy sauce are registered, cotton, fashionable clothes, stuffed animals, etc. Using the laundry judgment storage means 6 in which the words related to the type of laundry to be registered are registered, and the judgment storage means 4 in which the words related to the washing including the laundry judgment storage means 5 and the laundry determination storage means 6 are registered. By comparing the words analyzed by the voice analysis unit 3 of the voice recognition unit 21 and the words registered in advance in the determination storage unit 4 with the comparison unit 7 via the transmission/reception unit 10, what kind of laundry can be obtained? You can judge whether it is an object.

Here, by using the external storage medium 11, more new words such as new functional materials and brand names of clothing can be added each time.

Then, based on the determination result, the control method determination means 28 automatically determines the conditions relating to the laundry control such as the rotation speed of the washing/dehydrating tub 41 and the water amount, and based on the conditions, the washing machine control means 29 causes the laundry to be washed. Execute the washing with the most suitable washing method according to.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, by providing the determination storage means 4 in the external storage medium 11, it becomes easy to register words, and therefore new functional materials, clothing brand names, etc. are added each time. It becomes possible to respond promptly to words, and the user can use more words to operate with the optimum washing control according to the laundry, so that the washing quality can be further improved.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of essential parts in the third embodiment. The structure is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the overall configuration of FIG. 4, and the same parts are given the same numbers and their explanations are omitted.

In FIG. 4, the voice recognition means 1 is provided in a terminal device 12 such as a speaker equipped with artificial intelligence or a smart phone, and a terminal transmitting/receiving unit 13 communicates with a transmitting/receiving unit 14 built in a washing machine, directly or indirectly. can do.

Then, the voice signal of the user input to the voice input unit 2 is analyzed by the voice analysis unit 3 to extract words, and the extracted words and the words registered in advance in the judgment storage unit 4 are compared with each other 7 And compare it to determine what the laundry is like.

Based on the determination result, the control method determination means 8 automatically determines conditions related to washing control such as the rotation speed of the washing/dehydrating tub 41 and the water amount, and the determination result is transmitted from the terminal transmission/reception unit 13 to the transmission/reception unit 14 of the washing machine. And the washing machine control means 39 executes the washing by the optimum washing method according to the laundry based on the condition.

As described above, in the third embodiment, by providing the voice recognition unit 1 including the voice input unit 2, the voice analysis unit 3, the determination storage unit 4, and the comparison unit 7 in the external terminal device 12, Optimal washing control according to the dirt and type of laundry can be realized by the voice of the user without complicating the operation display portion 61 of the washing machine, the washing quality can be improved, and It is possible to reduce the number of additional elements to be mounted and to develop at low cost.

In this embodiment, the vertical washing machine has been described as an example of the washing machine. The washing machine is not limited to the vertical washing machine as long as it has a voice input means, and may be a drum type washing machine or a two-tub washing machine.

As described above, in the washing machine according to the present invention, when the user inputs the voice to the voice input means, the washing machine automatically determines the dirt and the type of the laundry without complicating the operation and the display. However, since the washing can be performed by the most suitable washing method according to the laundry, it can be applied to other uses such as a drum type washing machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 voice recognition means 2 voice input means 3 voice analysis means 4 determination storage means 5 stain determination storage means 6 laundry determination storage means 7 comparison means 8 control method determination means 9, 29, 39 washing machine control means 10 transmitter/receiver section 11 external storage Medium 12 Terminal equipment 13 Terminal transmission/reception section 14 Transmission/reception section 21 Voice recognition means 28 Control method determination means 41 Laundry/dehydration tank 42 Pulsator 43 Water tank 45 Outer frame 48 Motor 52 Drain valve 58 Upper frame 59 Water supply valve 61 Operation display section

Claims (3)

An operation display unit having an input setting means for setting a driving course and the like, and a display means for displaying the input setting information, a voice recognition means for processing voice data by a user, and a series of washing, rinsing, dehydration, etc. The washing machine control means for sequentially controlling the stroke of the washing machine, wherein the voice recognition means is a voice analysis means for receiving a voice signal regarding a stain, material, etc. of the laundry by the user, which is inputted to the voice input means constituted by a microphone or the like. The condition is determined by comparing the extracted words with the words registered in advance in the judgment storing means by the comparing means, and the control method determining means determines the result of the judgment. And a washing machine control means for executing the washing method. The determination storage means is provided in an external storage medium connected to an external communication network, and the voice recognition means obtains the words extracted by the voice analysis means from the voice signal of the user via the transmission/reception unit. The state of the laundry is determined by comparing with the words registered in advance in the determination storage means, the control method determination means determines the washing method based on the determination result, and the washing machine control means determines the laundry method. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine executes. The voice recognition means including the voice input means, the voice analysis means, the determination storage means, and the comparison means is provided in an external terminal device, and the terminal device includes the control method determination means and the terminal transmission/reception unit. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine control means executes the washing method by communicating with the washing machine via a transmitting/receiving unit provided in the washing machine to determine the washing method.

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