JPH0497781A - Controller for washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the initializing time so that initialization can be completed surely during water supplying time by adjusting the light emitting outputs of the light emitting elements of an optical sensor on the basis of the light emitting output data obtained at the time of supplying water for the preceding rinsing operation stored in a storing means. CONSTITUTION:The optical sensor 1 of a full automatic washing machine is composed of light emitting elements 1a and 1b which respectively detect the light transmitting properties of washing water and rinsing water. In addition, a light emitting output controlling means which controls the light emitting output of the element 1a to a prescribed reference value at the time of water supply and a storing means, for example, nonvolatile memory 3 which stores the light emitting output data of the means 2 are provided. Then the light emitting output of the light emitting elements 1a and 1b of the optical sensor 1 are adjusted on the basis of the light emitting output data at the time of supplying water for the preceding rising operation stored in the storing means 3. Therefore, the sensitivity adjustment of the sensor 1 can be completed in a short time within the water supplying time and the time control can be performed accurately at the next washing time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine control device equipped with an optical sensor that detects the light transmittance of washing liquid and rinsing liquid in a washing tub.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a washing machine control device that detects the turbidity of a washing liquid using a light emitting element and a light receiving element and sets a washing time and a rinsing time in accordance with the detected turbidity.

In this type of washing machine control device, the output from the light receiving element is set to an initial value when water is supplied for washing and rinsing, and the output from the light receiving element is set to an initial value when water is supplied for washing and rinsing. It is necessary to correct the sensitivity change due to the adhesion of dirt.

In this initial value setting method, in the washing process, the control a current of the light emitting element is gradually increased from 0, and when the output signal of the light receiving element reaches a predetermined value, the initial value setting is completed, and this light emission output data is stored. The washing time was stored in the means and used as reference data for the next washing process to control the washing time.

In addition, in the rinsing process, the control current of the light emitting element is increased sequentially from ○, and when the output signal of the light receiving element reaches a predetermined value, the setting is completed and the initial value is set. and,
This setting was repeated every time.

In the conventional washing machine control device, which is the problem to be solved by the present invention, in the rinsing process, the control current of the light emitting element is gradually increased from 0, so that variations in the characteristics of the light receiving and emitting elements, Depending on how dirty the mounting portion of the optical sensor is, it may take a long time for the output signal of the light receiving element to reach a predetermined value, making it impossible to set the initial value within the rinsing water supply time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine control device that can shorten the initial value setting time and reliably complete the initial value setting within the water supply time.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical sensor consisting of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element for detecting the light transmittance of washing liquid and rinsing liquid in a washing tub; The light emitting output control means has a light emitting output control means for adjusting the light emitting output of the light emitting element to a predetermined reference value when water is supplied, and a storage means for storing the light emitting output value set by the light emitting output control means 6, The control means is adapted to adjust the light emitting output of the light emitting element of the optical sensor in the next washing, based on the light emitting output data during the previous rinsing water supply stored in the storage means.

Effect of the present invention With the above-described configuration, the control current of the light emitting element is applied based on the light emission output data during the previous rinsing water supply stored in the storage means, and it is determined whether the output voltage of the light receiving element is at a predetermined value. In order to make a judgment, the initial value setting of the optical sensor can be reliably performed within the water supply time.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows a control device for a washing machine according to the present invention. As shown in the diagram (C), 1 is an optical sensor consisting of a light emitting element 1a and a light receiving element 1b that detect the light transmittance of the washing liquid in the washing tub and the rinsing armpit, and 2 is the light emitted from the light emitting element 1a of the optical sensor 1. A light emitting output control means for controlling the output to a predetermined reference value during water supply; 3 is a storage means for storing the data of the 8 light emitted by the light emitting output control means 2; for example, a non-volatile memory is used; 4 is a A microcomputer calculates the current If of the optical sensor 10 and the light emitting element 11L.
It has a built-in pulse width control circuit (hereinafter referred to as PWM circuit) that controls the pulse width, and a MU/D conversion circuit that converts analog signals into digital signals.

A PWM signal from the microcomputer 4 is applied to a D/MU converter circuit 2a (usually an integrating circuit) to convert it into a DC voltage and control the base voltage of the transistor 2b. The light emitting element 1a of the optical sensor 1 is connected to the collector of the transistor 2b, and the emitter resistor 2C is connected to the emitter, so it becomes a constant current circuit, and the current of the light emitting element 12L can be controlled by the base voltage. . A transistor 2d is connected in series with the emitter resistor 2C, and based on the SW signal from the microcomputer 4, the current of the light emitting element 1a is controlled on and off to perform PURNU drive. Light receiving element 1 of optical sensor 1
A voltage corresponding to the turbidity of the washing liquid is input from the load resistor 2e of b to the microcomputer 40m/D input.

FIG. 2 shows changes in the output of the optical sensor 1 during the entire stroke of the fully automatic washing machine. This washing photosensor output Vc in FIG. 2 is a value based on the light emission output data stored in the storage means 3 during the previous washing.

This light emission output data is obtained as follows.

When water is supplied for rinsing in FIG. 2, the light emitting output control means 2 adjusts the current If of the light emitting element 1a so that the output voltage of the optical sensor 1 becomes the reference voltage VC, and the light emitting output data at this time is stored in the storage means. Layer as shown in step 3.

FIG. 3 shows the optical sensor 10 and the light emitting element 11 of this embodiment! 12 is a flowchart for setting the light emission output Vo of L to a predetermined reference voltage Vc when water is supplied for rinsing.

In step 5, supply of rinsing water into the washing tub is started. When water is supplied to the washing tub at a predetermined water level, the microcomputer 4 stores the previous PWM from the storage means 3 in step 6.
Enter data. When the step is completed, this PWM signal is outputted to control the current If of the light emitting element 1 of the optical sensor 1, and the transistor 2d is turned on to turn on the light emitting element 1.
Drive a. Then, in step 8, the output voltage Vo of the light receiving element 1b at this time is programmed into the microcomputer 4.
D-convert it and input it, and in step 9, output voltage V at this time.
It is determined whether o has reached a predetermined reference value Vc. If the reference value Vc is reached and t, -, -6, step 10
Change the PWM data with and return to step 7 to set the reference value V.
PWM control is repeated until reaching c. Then, the PWM data that has reached the reference value VC is stored in the storage means 3 as the next PWM data, that is, the light emission output data. If the reference value Vc has been reached in step 9, step 11
The previous light emission output data is stored in the storage means 3 again. Then, in step 12, the adjustment of the light emission output is completed.

As described above, the sensitivity adjustment of the optical sensor 1 is performed based on the previously adjusted data, so that the sensitivity adjustment can be completed within a short time when water is being supplied.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description of the embodiments, according to the present invention, there is provided a light sensor comprising a light emitting element and a light receiving element for detecting the light transmittance of the washing liquid and rinsing liquid in the washing tub; The light emitting output control means has a light emitting output control means for adjusting the light emitting output of the light emitting element to a predetermined reference value when water is supplied, and a storage means for storing light emitting output data by the light emitting output control means. In the next washing, the light emitting output of the light emitting element of the light sensor is adjusted based on the light emitting output data from the previous rinsing water supply stored in the storage means, so the sensitivity adjustment of the light sensor is easy. The washing process is reliably finished within the water supply time and in a short time, and the next washing time can be controlled accurately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a control device for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing the output of the same optical sensor, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart showing a method for setting the reference value of the optical sensor. 1... Optical sensor, 1a... Light emitting element, 1
b... Light receiving element, 2... Light emitting output control means, 3... Memory means. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and one other person
)”Jp2- Filling %-) & Kasento Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical sensor consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element detects the light transmittance of the washing liquid and rinsing liquid in the washing tub, and the light emission output of the light emitting element of the optical sensor is adjusted to a predetermined reference value when water is supplied. The light emission output control means includes a light emission output control means and a storage means for storing light emission output data by the light emission output control means, and the light emission output control means is configured to store data from the previous rinse water supply stored in the memory means in the next washing. A control device for a washing machine that adjusts a light emission output of a light emitting element of the optical sensor based on light emission output data of the light sensor.