JP2020099553A - Washing machine and washing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing machine and a washing system in which the number of components for an operation display part of the washing machine is reduced.SOLUTION: A washing machine 1 comprises an operation control part 3 for controlling a washing operation, and a communication part 2 for receiving a control instruction related to the washing operation from an external washing information server 30, and starts the washing operation on the basis of the control instruction received by the communication part 2. Also, the washing system comprises the washing information server 30 capable of communicating with the washing machine 1, and a communication terminal capable of communicating with the washing information server 30 and having an operation display part for displaying an operation screen received from the washing information server 30. Thus, a user can operate the washing machine 1 from the outside via the washing information server 30, and it is not necessary to provide a large operation display part on a main body of the washing machine 1 and it is possible to reduce the number of components.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine and a washing system capable of communicating with a laundry information server and a communication terminal.

The laundry execution device in Patent Document 1 narrows down a number of necessary display items related to laundry to necessary displays.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a conventional washing machine described in Patent Document 1.

As shown in FIG. 9, the laundry execution device 100 includes a display 210 for displaying image data, an operating device 220 placed on the front surface of the display 210 to detect a touch position on the display screen, and a washing operation. A guidance display for guiding a condition setting instruction operation, and a control device 110 for causing a display device to display a current state regarding the instruction operation are provided. The guidance display is performed by dividing the contents to be displayed in time series and displaying them sequentially.

JP, 9-848989, A

However, the conventional configuration has a problem in that the display device for notifying the user of the washing operation state and the operation device for the user to set the washing operation are expensive.

The present disclosure provides a washing machine and a washing system that can reduce the number of components for the operation display unit of the washing machine.

The washing machine according to the present disclosure includes an operation control unit that controls a washing operation, and a communication unit that receives a control instruction regarding a washing operation from an external washing information server. The operation control unit starts the washing operation based on the control instruction received by the communication unit.

Since the washing machine according to the present disclosure can reduce the number of parts for the operation display unit of the washing machine, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Block diagram of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Flowchart diagram showing the outline of the operation of the washing machine Flowchart diagram showing the initial screen generation operation of the same washing machine The flowchart figure showing the control instruction|indication of the operation of the same washing machine. The display image figure in the power-off state of the portable terminal of Embodiment 1 of this invention Display image diagram of the mobile terminal in the initial standby state Block diagram of a washing machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Block diagram of a washing machine according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention Block diagram of conventional washing machine

A washing machine according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an operation control unit that controls a washing operation, and a communication unit that receives a control instruction regarding a washing operation from an external laundry information server, and based on the control instruction received by the communication unit. Then, the washing operation is started. As a result, the washing machine can be operated from the outside via the washing information server, so that it is not necessary to provide a large operation display unit on the washing machine body, and the number of parts can be reduced.

A washing machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is the washing machine according to the first aspect, which includes a simple operation display unit for inputting operation instructions for turning the power on and off and for starting the washing machine. With this, the start of the regular washing operation and the temporary interruption of the washing operation can be directly input to the washing machine, and thus the operability is high.

A laundry system according to a third invention is capable of communicating with the washing machine according to the first or second invention, a laundry information server capable of communicating with the washing machine via a communication network, and a laundry information server capable of communicating with the laundry information server via a communication network. A communication system, wherein the laundry information server includes a processing unit for matching the state of the washing machine with a control instruction, and an operation for the communication terminal based on information received from the washing machine. An operating screen generation unit that generates a screen, and a communication unit that communicates with the washing machine and the communication terminal, wherein the mobile terminal receives from the laundry information server a communication unit that communicates with the laundry information server. An operation display unit that displays the operation screen described above is provided, and the washing machine is operated from the mobile terminal via the laundry information server. Accordingly, since the washing machine can be operated from the operation screen displayed on the communication terminal, the design of the operation screen is not restricted by the external structure of the washing machine, and the degree of freedom in designing the operation screen is high.

A laundry system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the laundry system according to the third aspect, wherein the laundry information server includes a personal setting unit capable of setting preference information of a user who uses a mobile terminal, and the communication terminal according to each user. Display the operation screen of. Accordingly, since the operation screen corresponding to each user can be displayed on the communication terminal, the operability of the operation screen is high.

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

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a block diagram of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the hardware configuration of the washing machine according to the present embodiment is well known, and therefore detailed illustration and the like will be omitted and will be briefly described below.

The operation control unit 3 determines an operation sequence for performing a washing operation. Generally, the operation sequence is configured by combining a washing process for washing clothes, a rinsing process for flowing detergent, a dehydration process for removing water from clothes, and a drying process for drying clothes. The operation control unit 3 drives the required load device from the washing function unit 4 according to the operation sequence.

Generally, the load device includes a motor for operating the washing tub, a water supply valve for supplying water from a faucet, a heater device, and the like.

The storage unit 5 stores an operation sequence and is referred to by the operation control unit 3 as necessary. In addition, the operation sequence individually set by the user can be stored.

The communication unit 2 is assumed to be able to access the laundry information server 30 via the communication network 20 by communicating with a wireless LAN router or the like within the communicable range, but instead of the wireless LAN router, a gateway device or a nearby device is used. Communication may be performed using range wireless communication or the like. The communication unit 2 transmits the state of the washing machine of the washing machine 1 to the communication unit 31. The state of the washing machine includes a state in which the power is turned on and off, a state before starting the operation, and a current progress state of the operation sequence when the operation is in progress.

On the other hand, it receives a control instruction from the laundry information server 30 to the operation control unit 3. The control instruction is assumed to be a power-on or power-off instruction, a reservation setting instruction for starting an ordinary course one hour later, or a display instruction for acquiring the current state of the washing machine.

Next, the laundry information server 30 is built on the Internet and can communicate with the washing machine 1 via the communication network 20. The processing unit 32 matches the state of the washing machine with the control instruction. For example, when the washing machine 1 is already in operation, even if the reservation setting instruction is issued, the washing machine 1 cannot be accepted. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform unnecessary communication by matching the laundry information server. , The amount of communication can be suppressed. The processing unit 32 may be performed on the washing machine 1. Hereinafter, the processing unit 32 will be described as being on the laundry information server 30.

The operation screen generation unit 33 generates an operation screen for the mobile terminal 40 according to the state of the washing machine. For example, when the state of the washing machine is in the initial standby state, a screen for selecting a course and making detailed settings is generated. The communication unit 31 receives the state of the washing machine from the washing machine 1. It also sends a washing machine control instruction to the washing machine 1. Furthermore, the control instruction of the washing machine is received from the mobile terminal 40. Also, the operation screen is transmitted to the mobile terminal 40.

Next, the mobile terminal 40 is assumed to be a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like owned by the user. The operation display unit 42 displays the operation screen transmitted from the laundry information server 30 according to the mobile terminal used by the user. At this time, as the display method, a dedicated application installed on the mobile terminal 40 is assumed, but it may be realized by software that is provided in advance on the mobile terminal 40. Hereinafter, description will be made assuming that there is a dedicated application. The communication unit 41 transmits a washing machine control instruction to the laundry information server 30. Further, the operation screen is received from the laundry information server 30.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation outline of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of initial screen generation, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of control instructions. An operation method for turning the power of the washing machine 1 from the power OFF to the power ON from the portable terminal 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows a display image on the mobile terminal 40 after executing FIG. FIG. 6 shows a display image on the mobile terminal 40 after executing FIG.

In step S, an initial screen is generated. When the dedicated application on the mobile terminal 40 is activated, a control instruction for acquiring the state of the washing machine is transmitted to the laundry information server 30 in step S101. In step S11, the control instruction for acquiring the state of the washing machine is received, and the control instruction for acquiring the state of the washing machine is transferred to the processing unit 32. The processing unit 32 may use the state of the washing machine already remaining in the laundry information server 30, but since the state of the washing machine may change, the latest state information is obtained from the washing machine 1. .. It should be noted that if the current time is compared with the upload time of the state of the washing machine already remaining in the laundry information server 30, and if it is determined to be relatively latest information, that information may be used to transition to step S12. ..

In step S1, a control instruction for acquiring the state of the washing machine is received from the laundry information server 30, and the current state of the washing machine is acquired from the operation control unit 3. In step S2, the current state of the washing machine is transmitted to the laundry information server 30. In step S12, the operation screen generation unit 33 generates a screen according to the current state of the washing machine. In step S102, the operation screen is displayed. In this example, a screen such as the one shown in FIG.

In step T, a control instruction is given. In step T101, the button or the like displayed on the mobile terminal 40 is tapped to set the washing machine. In the following description, it is assumed that the power-on button has been tapped. In step T102, a power-on control instruction for the washing machine 1 is transmitted to the laundry information server 30. In step T11, the power-on control instruction for the washing machine 1 is received, and the power-on control instruction for the washing machine 1 is passed to the processing unit 32. The processing unit 32 may use the state of the washing machine already remaining in the laundry information server 30, but since the state of the washing machine may change, the latest state information is obtained from the washing machine 1. .. It should be noted that the upload time of the state of the washing machine already remaining in the laundry information server 30 is compared with the current time, and if it is determined to be relatively latest information, that information may be used to transition to step T12. ..

In step T1, a control instruction to acquire the state of the washing machine is received from the laundry information server 30, and the current state of the washing machine is acquired from the operation control unit 3. In step T2, the current state of the washing machine is transmitted to the laundry information server 30. In step T12, the processing unit 32 compares the power-on control instruction of the washing machine 1 with the state of the washing machine, and branches depending on the result of matching. If the match is NG, the fact that the operation is not accepted (failure) is displayed on the mobile terminal 40 in step T103. On the other hand, if the match is OK, in step T13, a power-on control instruction is transmitted to the washing machine 1. In step T3, a power-on control instruction is received. Then, in step T4, the operation control unit 3 executes the operation. In step T5, the execution result is transmitted to the laundry information server 30 as the state of the washing machine. In step T14, the operation screen generation unit 33 generates a screen according to the current state of the washing machine. In step T104, the fact that the operation is completed (success) is displayed. Further, in step T105, the operation screen is displayed. In this example, a screen for setting the washing machine after the power-on button is tapped as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed.

As described above, the washing machine according to the present embodiment includes the operation control unit 3 that controls the washing operation and the communication unit 31 that receives the control instruction related to the washing operation from the external washing information server 30. 3 starts the washing operation based on the control instruction received by the communication unit 31. Thereby, even if the operation display unit is not installed on the washing machine 1, the washing machine 1 can be operated from the mobile terminal 40 via the washing information server 30. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a special device as the operation display unit, and the material cost can be reduced.

Further, when the operation display unit is provided on the washing machine 1, it is necessary to provide the operation display unit at a location where the user has good visibility. Therefore, the operation display unit is provided on the front surface or the upper portion of the washing machine 1, which limits the design. By using the operation display unit 42 of the mobile terminal 40, not only the design of the washing machine 1 does not depend on the structure of the washing machine 1, but also the design of the operation display unit 42 can be freely configured. As described above, the washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment has a high design.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7: is a block diagram of the washing machine in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 7, the simple operation display unit 7 is provided on the washing machine 1 and can input operation instructions for turning the power on and off and for starting the washing machine. When the user wants to take out the laundry in the middle of the laundry operation, the user can suspend the laundry operation using the simple operation display unit 7 and restart the laundry operation after taking out the laundry. Operations such as temporary suspension and resumption are performed when the user is on the side of the washing machine 1. Therefore, it is more convenient to directly instruct the washing machine 1 than to use the mobile terminal 40. Therefore, regarding the power on/off and the washing machine start operation, operation instructions can be input on the simple operation display unit 7. In the present embodiment, the simple operation display unit 7 is made small by limiting the contents that can be operated on the simple operation display unit 7. As a result, both the convenience for the user and the design of the washing machine 1 can be improved.

With the above-described configuration, the washing machine 1 can be operated using the simple operation display unit 7 on the washing machine 1, and the washing machine 1 can be operated from the mobile terminal 40 via the washing information server 30. Therefore, the usability for the user is further improved.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 8: is a block diagram of the washing machine in Embodiment 3 of this invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.
In FIG. 8, the personal setting unit 34 uses the mobile terminal 40 registered in advance when the operation screen generation unit 33 generates a screen corresponding to the current state of the washing machine on the laundry information server 30. Based on the preference information of, the screen selection is corrected and the screen is generated. Generally, the preference information includes information such as age, prefecture, and time-saving washing method. In the following description, the preference information will be described as age.

For example, an operation display unit configured with a large font is provided to users in their 60s. For users in their twenties, in consideration of being unfamiliar with washing, an operation display unit provided with a balloon for explaining what the setting is intended is provided.

The washing machine 1 configured as described above can adjust the layout and the like of the operation display unit of the mobile terminal 40 for each user from the mobile terminal 40 via the laundry information server 30. By providing an easy-to-use operation display unit for each user, the usability for the user is improved.

The present disclosure is applicable to a washing machine that communicates with the outside. Specifically, the present disclosure is applicable to a vertical washing machine, a drum type washing machine, a dishwasher, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine 2 Communication part 3 Operation control part 4 Washing function part 5 Storage part 7 Simple operation display part 20 Communication network 30 Washing information server 31 Communication part 32 Processing part 33 Operation screen generation part 34 Personal setting part 40 Mobile terminal 41 Communication part 42 Operation display

Claims (4)

An operation control unit that controls the washing operation and a communication unit that receives a control instruction related to the washing operation from an external laundry information server are provided, and the operation control unit performs the washing operation based on the control instruction received by the communication unit. Washing machine to start driving. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a simple operation display section for performing an operation of turning the power on/off and a washing machine start operation. A washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,
A laundry information server capable of communicating with the washing machine via a communication network,
A laundry system comprising: a laundry terminal capable of communicating with the laundry information server via a communication network,
The laundry information server includes a processing unit that matches a state of a washing machine with a control instruction, an operation screen generation unit that generates an operation screen for the communication terminal based on information received from the washing machine, and the laundry. And a communication unit that communicates with the communication terminal,
The communication terminal includes a communication unit that communicates with the laundry information server, and an operation display unit that displays the operation screen received from the laundry information server,
A laundry system for operating the washing machine from the communication terminal via the laundry information server. 4. The laundry information server includes a personal setting unit capable of setting preference information of a user who uses the communication terminal, and displays an operation screen of the communication terminal according to each user. Laundry system described in.

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