JPH0341996A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically execute switching to silent operation and to eliminate setting misses by providing a control means to automatically switch a set state from a first washing course to a second washing course based on a compared result from a sound volume comparing means when surrounding sound volume is low. CONSTITUTION:A microcomputer 14 discriminates the surrounding volume by investigating the input condition of signals from first and second comparator circuits 12 and 13. When the signal is inputted from the second comparator circuit 13, a washing course A is executed as it is since the surrounding sound volume is more than 45dB. When the signal is inputted only from the first comparator circuit 12, the surrounding sound volume is more than 40dB and less than 45dB and a washing course B, which is slightly quieter than the washing course A, is set and executed replaced with the washing course A. When the signal is inputted from neither the first comparator circuit 12 nor the second comparator circuit 13, a washing course C, in which an operating sound is most reduced, is set and executed replaced with the washing course A since the surrounding volume is less than 40dB and noise is generated by generating the large operating sound.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (b) Industrial application field The present invention relates to a washing machine.

(O) Conventional rain technology As a conventional example, there is a washing machine in which a daytime operation program aimed at short-time operation and a nighttime operation program aimed at n-noise operation can be arbitrarily selected. 18
It is shown in Publication No. 1095 (D06F33 02).

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional example, 5. Due to a user's setting error, the daytime driving program is executed at night, causing noise, or conversely, the nighttime driving program is executed during the daytime. There is a risk that the project will not be completed in a short time.

The present invention solves these problems in washing machines.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The washing machine of the present invention includes a storage means for storing a standard first washing course and a second washing course programmed to have relatively low operating noise, and a sound volume sensing means for outputting an electrical signal according to the sound volume of the sound, a ratio $2\ step for comparing the signal from the sensing means with a reference value, and a sound volume sensing means that detects that the surrounding sound volume is low based on the comparison result from the comparing means. In this case, the present invention is equipped with a control means that can self-deprecatingly change the setting state from the first iM course to the second first printing course.

(e) Effect: Regardless of whether it is daytime or nighttime, the first washing course is normally executed, and the second washing course, which aims at quiet operation, is executed only when the surrounding sound volume is low.

(f) Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In the fully automatic washing machine shown in Fig. 2, 1 is a machine frame, 2 is an operating section provided at the rear of the L portion of the machine frame L, 3 is an outer tank installed inside the machine frame L, and 4 is an outer tank. A dewatering/washing tub is installed inside the tub 3 and has a large number of dehydrating holes around the periphery, and a rotating blade 5 is provided at the bottom of the washing tub t.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a drive motor, which is connected to the washing tub 4 and the rotary blade 5 via a power transmission tIII7, and rotates the rotary blade 5 during washing, and rotates the washing WI41 rotary blade 5 together at high speed in one direction during dewatering. let Reference numeral 8 denotes a drain electric valve that opens and closes the drain pipe 9.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a microphone exposed on the front surface of the operating section 2, which outputs an electrical signal according to the sound volume around the washing machine. Then, the output of the microphone 10 is amplified by an amplifier 1511 as shown in FIG. 3, and input to the first comparison circuit 12 and the second comparison circuit 13, respectively. Said first comparison circuit 1
2 and the second ratio soft circuit 13 are mainly #R omitted by a comparator, and the volume input to the microphone 10 is 40d.
If it exceeds 45 dB, the first comparison circuit 12 outputs an electrical signal, and if it exceeds 45 dB, the second comparison circuit 13 also outputs an electrical signal.

Now, the operation of the washing machine of this embodiment is controlled by a microcomputer 14 (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer, for example, LC6523C model manufactured by Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.), and the control mechanism of the washing machine centered on this microcomputer 14 is This will be explained based on FIG.

The previous microcomputer 14 is a CPU 15 (centr
a! processing unit, RAM
16 (random access memory,
i, ROM 17 (read only mec
ory), timer 18, system path 19, and input/output ports 20-25.

The CPU 15 is connected to a control section 26 and a calculation section 27, the control section 26 takes out and executes instructions, and the calculation section 27 receives control signals from the control section 26 during the instruction execution stage. Performs arithmetic processing such as binary addition, logical operation, increase/decrease, and comparison on data given from input devices and memory. The RAM 16 is for storing data regarding the washing machine, and the ROM 1
7 is for loading in advance the means for operating the washing machine, the settings for conditions for judgment, and the rules for processing various information.

The input boats 20 to 22 are comprised of an input key circuit 28 that is tlla from various operation setting keys, a water level sensor that detects the water level in the washer 4, a safety switch that operates in conjunction with the opening and closing of the top cover, etc. state detection circuit 29
, Nl from the first comparison circuit 12 and the second comparison circuit 13
A signal from the comparator circuit 30 is inputted, and based on this information, an LED drive circuit 31 composed of various light emitting diode groups is output from the output ports 23 to 24.
, a buzzer circuit 32 for process end notification and abnormality notification, a load drive circuit 33, and the like.

The load drive circuit 33 controls the operations of the drive motor 6, the water supply magnetic valve 34, and the drain electric valve 8 in accordance with control signals from the microcomputer 14.

35 is a power supply circuit for supplying voltage to the microcomputer 14, and 36 is a reset signal generating circuit.

The water level sensor responds to a pressure change in the air trap due to a change in water level in the washing PfI4 (outer 113).
Then, a magnetic substance is moved in and out of the coil to change the inductance of the coil, and this change in coil V inductance is input to the microcomputer 14 as a change in the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit. The water level in the tank is continuously detected over a wide range by determining this oscillation frequency.

The microcomputer 14 sequentially executes a washing course consisting of the steps of washing, draining, de-throbbing, rinsing 1, draining, dewatering, rinsing 2, final draining, and dewatering according to the program. In this example, this Kou IM course consists of 3
The program contents of each washing course are stored in the ROM 17.

That is, FIG. 5(a) shows the contents of washing course A.-5 The second washing course A is a standard one, and this washing course A is normally executed when a start key (not shown) is operated. .

@Figure 5 (B) shows the contents of washing course H. In this washing course B, the leaving time after washing is increased: 1 minute → 3
), the water is sufficiently drained, and the initial stage of dewatering is made of intermittent rotation, thereby reducing the water draining noise during dehydration.

Therefore, washing course B: i operates more quietly than washing course A.

FIG. 5(c) shows the contents of washing course C. In this washing course C, compared to washing course A, the rinsing time is set i earlier and the rinsing time is longer, and the interval between washing and rinsing is Intermediate dehydration between rinsing and rinsing is omitted. Furthermore, in this washing course C, the rest time during the reversal period of the rotary blade 5 is set longer than in the washing courses A and B. Specifically, the washing courses A and B
The reversal cycle is 1 second 0N - 1,5 seconds OFF (2 x = 1 second 0 N - 3 seconds OFF for the washing: 7-sc)
It is. That is, in washing course C, the washing and rinsing times are extended, so that the laundry is immersed in the detergent liquid or rinsing liquid for a longer time, thereby promoting the washing and rinsing effects. Strength? By omitting the intermediate sight water, there is no brake sound or vibration noise during dehydration, and the O
By lengthening the FF time, frequent reversals of the rotation N5 are reduced. As a result, washing course C operates more quietly than washing courses A and B.

Operations based on such purchases will be explained with reference to FIG.

The washing course A is automatically set at the same time as the power is turned on. When a start key (not shown) is operated in this state, the microcomputer 14 first determines the surrounding volume by checking the fa input status from the first comparison circuit 12 and second comparison circuit 13 (S- 1i. Then, when a signal is input from the second comparison circuit +3, the surrounding sound volume is 45 dB or more, so the washing course A is applied.
is executed as is (S-2). In addition, when the signal is input only from the first comparison circuit 12, the # amount around 1 is 40 dB or more and less than 45 dB, and in order to prevent noise, the washing course 1 is slightly quieter than the washing course A. is set and executed instead of washing course A.js-3).

Further, when no signal is input from either the first comparison circuit 12 or the @2 comparison circuit 13, the surrounding sound volume is less than 40 dB, and if a large operating sound is made, it will be a loud noise, so the above-mentioned Instead of washing course A, washing course C, which requires the least amount of operation, is set and executed (S-4).

In addition, if a key is provided to prohibit changing the washing course,
This is convenient when you really want to execute washing course A. Also, when the washing course starts, water is first supplied to the washing machine [4], but in this embodiment, a selection key (not shown) can be set in advance. For example, extremely small water level (ii7 rotor blade 5
When it reached -L), the water supply seemed to be interrupted,
After rotating the rotary blade 5 for 20 seconds, water supply to the set water level is resumed. That is, this 20-second stirring operation can dissolve the detergent that was not present and enhance the detergent effect.

(g.) Effects of the invention The washing machine of the present invention changes the static δ thickness by 1↑ when the surrounding sound volume is low, so it automatically switches to 5-man and 0-man operation without generating noise. There are no setting mistakes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the washing machine of the present invention;
Figure #12 is a diagram of the internal machine groove showing a cross-section of the main parts, and Figure 3 is the volume discrimination 41! Block circuit diagram showing the groove, Figure 4 is W74
The block circuit diagram of the control mechanism, FIG. 5, is a time chart of each washing course. lO...Microphone, 11...Amplification 5 (10, 11F
Volume sensing means), 12...first comparison circuit, 13...second
° Comparison circuit, 14... microcomputer (system 9il)
¥-stage), 17...ROM (memory 7-stage).

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A washing course consisting of steps such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration is executed sequentially according to a program, and the second washing course is programmed to have relatively low operating noise compared to the standard first washing course. a sound volume sensing means for outputting an electrical signal according to the surrounding sound volume, a comparison means for comparing the signal from the sensing means with a reference value, and a comparison result from the comparison means. A washing machine comprising: control means for automatically switching a setting state from the first washing course to the second washing course when the ambient sound volume is low.