JPH03133491A - Controller of washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily set the reference value of turbidity in a short time even without performing an actual laundry operation by controlling the output of the photodetector of a turbidity detector at the reference value by a specific switch operation. CONSTITUTION:A control means 10 turns on a power source switch 15 with a preset switch input means 14 as depressing, for example, a water level change- over switch 20 and a water current change-over switch 21 simultaneously, and inputs the output signal of the photodetector 7b of the turbidity detector 7 to an A/D input terminal via a voltage conversion circuit 12 by a specific operation to depress the water level change-over switch 20 for one time after that, and decides the control current IF of a light emitting element 7a so as to set an input voltage V0 at a prescribed value. The output level control data of the light emitting element 7a when the output of the photodetector 7b of the turbidity detector 7 is set at the reference value is stored in a storage means 18 in advance at the time of delivering a device from a factory, and the current of the light emitting element is controlled with the control data from a time when a first laundry operation is performed, and appropriate washing and rinsing control are performed based on the change of turbidity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine control device that controls washing operations by detecting changes in turbidity of liquid in a tank.

Conventional technology A method has been proposed in which the turbidity of the washing liquid is detected using a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element and the washing time and rinsing time are set according to the turbidity. A reference value was set under 100% clean water, and turbidity during washing and rinsing was detected based on this reference value.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such a conventional configuration, the standard value of turbidity in fresh water is set only after the washing operation is actually performed once and the rinsing process is started; The standard value of turbidity in the process is undefined, and there were seven problems in that appropriate washing control was not possible.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the first object of the present invention is to be able to easily set the reference value of turbidity in a short time by operating a specific switch without actually performing a 1N washing operation.The second object is to If you set the output of the light-receiving element of the turbidity detector to the reference value in advance at the time of factory shipment, and store the output level control data of the light-emitting element at that time in memory, 1
From the first washing operation, turbidity can be detected based on the rate of change from the reference value of turbidity in fresh water, and optimal washing and rinsing control can be performed.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the first technical means of the present invention is to control the output of the light receiving element of the turbidity detector to a reference value by operating a specific switch.

The second technical means is to control the light receiving element current so that the output of the light receiving element of the turbidity detector can be set to a reference value in advance at the time of factory shipment, and then storing the control data in a storage means. It is.

Effects According to the first technical means described above, the output of the light receiving element of the turbidity detector is controlled to the reference value by operating a specific switch, so that the turbidity can be easily adjusted in a short time without actually performing a washing operation. The standard value can be set.

According to the second technical means, the output of the light receiving element of the turbidity detector is set to a reference value in advance at the time of factory shipment, and the output level control data of the light receiving element at that time is stored in the memory.
When actually washing at home, the light-receiving element current is controlled using the control data stored in memory from the first washing operation, and the optimal washing is determined by setting a constant value and changing the turbidity from that value. , rinsing control becomes possible.

Embodiment One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 2 shows the overall configuration of the washing machine. In FIG. 2, 1 is the washing machine main body, and 2 is an outer tub, which is suspended and supported within the washing machine main body 1 by four rods 3, and has a vibration-proof structure. Reference numeral 4 denotes a washing tub that also serves as a spin-drying tub and has a large number of holes in the wall. Reference numeral 5 denotes a pulsator that rotates forward and backward, and is used to wash the clothes in the washing tub 4. 6 is a motor, 8 is a drain valve, and 9 is a drain hose. Figure 1 shows the electrical circuit configuration of the washing machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the turbidity detector 7 is provided in the middle of the drainage path 19, and is composed of a light emitting element 7a and a light receiving element 7b, which are provided facing each other. The drainage path 19 is interposed between the pixel elements 7a and 7b.

The control means 10 is composed of a microcomputer, and is a control means for a fully automatic washing machine that controls a series of washing operations such as washing, rinsing, and spin-drying.As its output terminal, it outputs pulses and the duty ratio of the pulses can be changed. It has a pulse output terminal (PWM terminal).

Input this PWM signal and convert it to D/A
It consists of a circuit 11a and a constant current circuit 11b which inputs the output voltage of this D/A circuit 11a and flows a constant current according to the voltage value to the light emitting element 7a. A current control circuit 11 is configured to linearly change the control current from the light emitting element 7a to the light emitting element 7a. The voltage conversion circuit 12 converts the output signal of the light receiving element 7b into a voltage, and the output voltage is inputted to the A/D input terminal of the control means 10. The current control circuit 11 and the voltage conversion circuit 12 constitute a reference voltage control means 13.

The setting switch input means 14 is for washing and rinsing.

These are necessary switches for settings during dewatering operation, and as shown on the operation panel in Figure 3, there are two switches: water level selector switch 20°, water flow selector switch 21. Washing time selector switch 22° Rinse selector switch 23. Dehydration time selection switch 24, clock switch 252 o'clock switch 261 minute switch 27. Reservation switch 28 and big game course switch 292 hand washing course switch 30. Speedy course switch 31. Biogoshigoshi course switch 32. Sensor biocourse switch 33, sensor course switch 34. Start/-
It consists of a time stop switch 35. Further, the power switch input means 15 is a switch for supplying/cutting off power to the control means 10 and the load. The display means 16 displays the contents set by the setting switch input means 14, and displays the water level display 40. Water flow display 41. Washing time display 42° Rinse display 43. Dehydration time display 441 Clock display 45, sensor monitor display 461 Stroke progress display 47. The display consists of a course setting display 48. The buzzer notification means 17 is a notification means in various cases such as when an input is made by the setting switch input means 14 or when washing is completed.
Consists of a buzzer.

The storage means 18 is a memory for storing the output level control data of the light emitting element when the reference value is set for the output of the light receiving element 7b of the turbidity detector 7, and in this embodiment, a non-volatile memory is used as an external memory IC. using memory.

The output signal waveform of the PWM terminal of the control means 10 is the fourth
As shown in the figure, the synchronization T is constant, and the duty ratio changes as the high-level pulse width tl+ changes. The output signal of this PWM terminal is D/A
Current control circuit 1 consisting of circuit 11a and constant current circuit 11b
1, the control current IP of the light emitting element 7a is changed linearly as shown in FIG. The resolution of this control current IP is 28=256, and if the maximum value of IP is 1001IA, it becomes 100'^/28ζ0.4false^.

Further, a turbidity detector 7 consisting of a light emitting element 7a and a light receiving element 7b
As shown in FIG. 6, there are good and bad transfer characteristics. Furthermore, as the washing machine is used, the drainage path 19 becomes dirty, which is equivalent to degrading the transmission characteristics.

Here, the control means 10 includes the setting switch input means 14.
Then, by a specific operation on the power switch input means 15, the output signal of the light receiving element 7b of the turbidity detector 7 is inputted to the A/D input terminal via the voltage conversion circuit 12, and this input voltage V is inputted. The control current IP of the light emitting element 7a is determined so that the value becomes a predetermined value. Here, the specific switch operation is different from the normal switch operation for washing operation, and in this embodiment, the power switch 15 is turned on while pressing the water level selection switch 20 and the water flow selection switch 21 at the same time.
After that, the operation of pressing the water level changeover switch 20 one more time is defined as a specific operation.

Then, the output level control data of the light emitting element 7a when the output of the light receiving element 7b of the turbidity detector 7 is set to the reference value is stored in advance in the storage means 18 at the time of shipment from the factory, and the data is stored in advance in the storage means 18 when actually washing at home. From the first washing operation, the light emitting element current is controlled based on the control data stored in the storage means 18, and the light emitting element current is set to a constant value, and optimum washing and rinsing control is performed based on the turbidity change from that value.

Here, the control means 10 controls the output voltage (■) of the light receiving element 7b of the turbidity detector 7. A method for determining the control current IP of the light emitting element 7a so that the value VA becomes the reference value VA, and a process for storing the control data in the storage means 18 will be explained based on FIGS. 5 to 7. The control means 10 first determines whether or not a specific switch has been input (step 50), and if the switch has been input, then determines whether or not water above the minimum water level is put in the washing tub 4 (step 51). is inserted, first a minute current of 5 mA is applied to the light emitting element 7.
step 52), the output voltage V of the light receiving element 7b at this time. manually rather than A/D manually (step 53)
). At this time, if the transmission characteristics of the turbidity detector 7 are good as shown in FIG. = 1.5v, and if it is bad, ■. -〇, Let's consider the case where it becomes 5V. However, it goes without saying that the transmission characteristics of the turbidity detector 7 are not limited to these two cases, and there are countless combinations. Next, the control means 10 uses the control current IF to be applied to the light emitting element 7a of the turbidity detector 7 based on Vo and the IF table shown in FIG. is determined (step 54).

That is V. -0.5v, the next IF to flow is 30"
^ Binding (step 55), if Vo=1.5■, 1.
is set to 10mA. And based on Figure 7 <I
The output voltage V of the light receiving element 7b when p is applied. Step 56), it is determined whether this Vo is within the predetermined range, Step 57), and if it is within the predetermined range, the current setting of the light emitting element 7a of the turbidity detector 7 is finished, and the storage means 18
At step 58, store this current setting control data.
), the buzzer notification means 17 notifies that the process has been completed. In this embodiment, the buzzer is sounded four times to distinguish it from other notifications (step 59). Here V
. is below a predetermined range (step 60), the current T of the light emitting element 7a is increased (step 61), and the output voltage V of the light receiving element 7b of the turbidity detector 7 is increased. Step 5
6), determine whether a predetermined value has been reached (step 57).
).

If Vo is above the predetermined range (step 60), the current rp of the light emitting element 7a is decreased (step 62), the output voltage v0 is input again (step 56), and it is determined whether the predetermined value has been reached. Yes (step 57).

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above embodiments, the present invention controls the output of the light-receiving element of the turbidity detector to a reference value by operating a specific switch. The standard value of turbidity can be set in a short time, and parts such as printed circuit boards can be replaced quickly in case of service.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the output of the light receiving element of the turbidity detector is set to a reference value in advance at the time of shipment from the factory, and the output level control data of the light emitting element at that time is stored in the memory, so when actually washing at home. Since the light-emitting element current can be controlled using the control data set during fresh water stored in the memory from the first washing operation, the optimum washing and rinsing can be achieved by changing the turbidity from that value without being affected by detergent etc. This has the effect of being more controllable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 shows ff1lf of a washing machine in one embodiment of the present invention.
A block diagram showing the washing machine, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine,
Fig. 3 shows the operation panel of the washing machine, Fig. 4 shows the pulse output signal of the control device, and Fig. 5 shows the high-level width tH of the pulse signal of the control device and the current characteristics of the light emitting element. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the transfer characteristics of the turbidity detector of the same control device, Figure 7 is a diagram showing the contents of the ROM stored in advance in the M m device, and Figure 8 is a diagram showing the transmission characteristics of the turbidity detector of the same control device. This is a flowchart. 7... Turbidity detector, 10... Control means, 11... Current control circuit, 12... Voltage conversion circuit, 13...・Reference voltage conversion means, 14
...Setting switch input means, 15...
Power switch input means, 16...Display means, 1
7...Buzzer notification means, 18...Storage means, 19...Drainage route.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Equipped with a turbidity detector that detects changes in turbidity of the liquid in the tank using a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and controlling the output of the light receiving element of the turbidity detector to a reference value by operating a specific switch. A washing machine control device featuring: (2) The washing machine control device according to claim 1, wherein output level control data of the light emitting element of the turbidity detector is stored in storage means in advance at the time of factory shipment.