JPH0556151B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to an electronically controlled washing machine, and more particularly, to an electronically controlled washing machine that presets a washing program for the washing machine and simplifies the setting. This invention relates to a controlled washing machine.

[Background of the invention]

Conventionally, fully automatic washing machines (hereinafter referred to as washing machines)
As a timer, it has two operating methods: one that stores multiple representative washing methods (fixed memory), and one that allows you to freely combine washing, rinsing, and spin-drying and set them each time. However, with these methods, when trying to perform a unique operation due to differences in washing habits in each household, the typical washing method may not be satisfactory, and the setting must be repeated each time. It is also inconvenient.

Each household has two or three combinations of laundry, each of which is unique, so it would be very convenient to be able to freely combine the combinations and then store them in a timer and set reservations. On the other hand, it is important for washing machine manufacturers to permanently store the correct washing method in the timer and promote it as a recommended program, in order to save water and electricity, and to protect the national interest.

Also, although it is very convenient to set up a reservation, if the setting procedure is too difficult, it will be unusable for housewives, while if it is too easy, there is a risk of accidentally canceling the reservation setting. .

Therefore, it is necessary to set a reservation based on the user's will and to be able to clearly confirm that the reservation has been set. Although sound and light notifications are generally known, it is disadvantageous in terms of cost to provide them in advance just for setting reservations.

Furthermore, if a reservable input key is provided, if the memory area is left in a clear state (no memory) when shipped from the factory, the input of the relevant key cannot be confirmed during factory tests. , and to save you the trouble of entering reservation settings for each machine for the test.
Furthermore, in order to avoid confusion when customers make a purchase, typical combinations are automatically stored in a part of the fixed memory at the time of initial setup, and the reservation settings can be read and written. It is also necessary to configure the program so that it can be set in the storage area.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention realizes reservation settings as a function not found in the conventional washing machines mentioned above, and can temporarily store a unique washing program for each household, call it up and use it whenever necessary, and change it and reuse it. Do it like this. The object of the present invention is to provide an electronically controlled washing machine that allows so-called preset functions to be set in an easy-to-use manner.

[Summary of the invention]

The configuration of the electronically controlled washing machine according to the present invention includes washing,
A fully automatic course in which rinsing and dehydration are operated according to a predetermined sequence, and a manual course in which the operating time and frequency of each process of washing, rinsing, and dehydration are set and operated in any combination by manual input from the input switch. The electronically controlled washing machine is configured to have a readable and writable memory means for temporarily storing the manually set manual course, and a readable and writable memory means that retains the memory contents. and a power supply means for constantly supplying the power necessary for the operation, and a function for reading out the manual course stored in advance in the read/write storage means by pressing within a predetermined time, and the input. A preset key is provided which has a function of starting a manual course set by a switch section, and when the preset key is pressed continuously for a predetermined time or more, the manual course set manually immediately before is restarted. It is configured to be stored in a readable and writable storage means.

More detailed information is as follows.

That is, the present invention has a structure that makes it easy to understand how to preset and prevents it from being erased by mistake, and also provides a storage area (related to a readable/writable storage means) that stores the contents of reservation settings only when the settings are desired. (hereinafter referred to as RAM).

Specifically, without providing a dedicated key for memory, only when the continuous time of pressing the key for program selection exceeds a certain time, the combination of the set contents is stored in the RAM.
After clearing the RAM area, new information can be written to enable reuse.

However, in terms of circuit configuration, it is necessary to use an auxiliary power source such as a battery in addition to the commercial power source, and to back up the contents of the memory so that it does not disappear when the power outlet is unplugged. This is what I did.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Below, the electronically controlled washing machine of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
This will be explained using figures. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an electric circuit of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1.

In Fig. 1, 1 is an outer frame, 2 is a top cover that covers the upper surface of the outer frame 1, and 3 is a corner plate fixed to the upper four corners of the outer frame 1, and a water tank 4 is supported by hanging rods 5 at four corners. ing. A vibration-proof spring 6 is attached to the hanging rod 5 and is formed to absorb vibrations of the water receiving tank 4 during dewatering. 7 is a basket which rotates at high speed during spin-drying to centrifugally spin-dry the laundry. Reference numeral 8 denotes a motor, and the power of the motor 8 is transmitted via a belt 9 and a pulley 10 to a clutch reduction unit 11 and decelerated, so that a rotor blade 12 is driven to rotate at a low speed. 1
4 is a water column hose, 15 is a water inlet that supplies water from the faucet into the water tank 4, and 16 (see Figure 2) is an electronic timer that controls the operation of electric parts such as the motor 8 and the water supply valve 13. It has become a matter of direction and control. Further, the motor 8 rotates in both forward and reverse directions, and is capable of driving the rotary blade 12 to rotate in the forward and reverse directions repeatedly.

In FIG. 2, 17 is a phase advance capacitor for the motor 8, 18 is a drain valve, 19 is a power outlet, 20 is a power switch, 21 is a neon lamp,
22 is a connector. 23 is a pressure sensor,
24 is a safety switch, and 25 is an instruction control unit including the various parts and circuits shown in the figure, which is an LSi element having a calculation function such as a microcomputer. Reference numeral 26 indicates a progress display section composed of light emitting diodes, and 27 indicates a power supply circuit section, which converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) and converts high voltage (AC 100 V) to low voltage (DC 10 V) to power the electronic timer 16. This is the part that makes it.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an oscillation circuit section which supplies a clock to the instruction control section 25 and also supplies an oscillation frequency to the buzzer 29. 30 is an input signal processing circuit, and an input signal bus line 31 is used to control the instruction control unit 2.
5, and 32 is an input switch section, which similarly transmits the signal to the instruction control section 25 via a signal bus line 31. Reference numeral 33 denotes an output signal bus line that transmits signals from the instruction control section 25 to the progress display section 26 and the drive section 34. Further, the line 35 is connected to the water supply valve 13 via the connector 22, the line 36 is connected to the forward rotation side of the motor 8, the line 37 is connected to the reverse rotation side, and the line 38 is connected to the drain valve 18.

In the above configuration, when an operation instruction is input to the input switch section 32, the signal from the pressure sensor 23 is determined. The signal is amplified and switched at 34, and a signal to turn on the water supply valve 13 is issued from the line 35, and water is supplied from the water inlet 15 via the water injection hose 14. When the water is full, the signal from the pressure sensor 23 is switched, the water supply valve 13 is de-energized, and the washing process begins.

Washing is usually done by turning clockwise for 0.8 seconds, pausing for 0.5 seconds,
It is performed in a short period of reversal with a counterclockwise rotation of 0.3 seconds and a pause of 0.5 seconds.
Mechanical force is applied to the laundry by the action of the rotary blades 12. In the above-mentioned washing method, the washing time can be up to about 12 minutes, but the washing time can be adjusted to a shorter time depending on the degree of dirt.

Next, FIG. 3 is a front view of the input/output board attached to the panel operation section provided on the top cover.
FIG. 4 is a detailed circuit diagram relating to input and output.

That is, the input/output board 100 has seven input keys including the standard cycle key.
12 light emitting diodes are installed. 101
102 is a light emitting diode, and 103 is a lead wire connected to the main circuit.

The relationship between the input and display is that the input of the key 101 is connected to the main board via the lead wire 103,
A signal is transmitted as an input to the 35th terminal of the instruction control section 25, which will be described next. Note that terminal 36 is an input-only terminal, and other input keys are also wired to the input terminal.
The input signal is stored in the RAM section via the AL section.

FIG. 4 shows details of the input/output board and other related circuits.

The light emitting diode 102 is connected to the output-only terminal, and when a high level signal is output, the light emitting diode 102 is connected to the light emitting diode 102 via the current limiting resistor 230 to display light emission. Pressure sensor 23
determines the water fluctuation moment by moment, processes it in the input signal processing circuit 30, and transmits the signal to terminals 2 to 5 of the instruction control section 25.

The same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate equivalent parts.

The reservation setting procedure will be explained using FIGS. 3 and 4 above.

As mentioned above, there are a total of seven input keys 101, and a total of 12 light emitting diodes 102.

Washing is in 3 stages: 12, 9, and 6 minutes, and rinsing is
The two-stage dehydration can be divided into three stages: 5, 3, and 1/2. Also, when the standard cycle key is selected, washing time is 12 minutes, rinsing time is 2 times, and dehydration time is 5 minutes.
Since it is stored in the ROM, this time limit is called up and displayed, and the operation is performed.

Signals from the input key 101 are captured in a 2×4 matrix as shown in FIG. 4, and input is determined by the instruction control unit 25. Display is 4×3
It is dynamically output as a matrix.

Next, in this embodiment, there are two preset keys, preset 1 and preset 2. The preset key is a combination of washing, rinsing, and spin-drying that is frequently used by the customer and is stored in the RAM area of the storage means by setting a reservation in advance.

Note that the information in the RAM area is stored by a dry battery associated with the power supply means.

Next, I will explain the procedure for setting up a reservation.

After turning on the power, pressing the input switch to set washing, rinsing, and spin-drying, for example, keep pressing the preset 1 key, which is used for other normal uses, for a specified time of 3 seconds or more.

At this time, preset 1 in the instruction control section 25
The setting contents are stored in the memory M1 corresponding to . The same applies to memory M2 corresponding to preset 2.

The purpose of pressing the button for 3 seconds is that it is only possible to press the button with the intention of making a new reservation, so this is a method to eliminate deletion errors due to erroneous operations.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram expressing the above contents. Only when pressed for 3 seconds or more, old memories are cleared, new settings are stored, and a setting completion sound is issued.

A method of counting the passage of time for 3 seconds will be explained below.

In other words, as a reference clock for counting,
A clock pulse obtained by waveform shaping the AC waveform of a 50Hz or 60Hz commercial power source is used.

Figure 6a is a 50Hz AC waveform, and Figure 6b is a 50Hz AC waveform.
is the reference clock pulse obtained by waveform shaping.

In the case of 50Hz, the time from the first pulse input until the 151st pulse is input is 3 seconds, and in the case of 60Hz, the time from the first pulse input to the 181st pulse is input. The time it takes for the pulse to be input is 3 seconds.

Therefore, the reference clock pulse is taken into the instruction control section 25, and the input judgment/output control section counts the pulses, and each time a pulse is input,
Add 1 to the time counter section of the RAM, which is the storage section of the instruction control section 25, and if the total number of pulses in the counter section is 50 Hz, it becomes 151 (in the case of binary number,
10010111), 181 for 60Hz (binary,
10110101).Continue counting until it becomes equal to 10110101).

When they become equal, it is determined that 3 seconds have passed and the memory contents are rewritten.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the part that counts the passage of time for 3 seconds.

In this embodiment, as a count pulse for time measurement,
Although the pulse wave obtained by shaping the AC waveform of the commercial power supply was used, it is also possible to provide a dedicated oscillation circuit for count pulses, or to use a reference clock for microcontroller operation. It is something.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the reservation setting key and the recall key are shared, and when changing the contents, the old contents are replaced with the new contents after being pressed continuously for more than 3 seconds, which prevents erroneous operation. This has the advantage that key-in can be performed reliably.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electronically controlled washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of the one related to Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an input/output installed on a panel operation section. The front view of the board, Figure 4 is a detailed input/output circuit diagram, Figure 5 is a flowchart, and Figure 6 is:
The time counting pulse waveform diagram, FIG. 7, is a flowchart in the 3-second counter section. 25... Instruction control section, 26... Progress display section, 2
7... Power supply circuit section, 28... Oscillation circuit section, 30...
...Input signal processing circuit, 32...Input switch section,
34... Drive unit, 100... Input/output board, 10
1...Key, 102...Light emitting diode.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fully automatic course in which washing, rinsing, and dehydration are operated according to a predetermined sequence, and operating time and number of washing, rinsing, and dehydration steps are determined by manual input from an input switch section. In an electronically controlled washing machine that can selectively operate manual courses that can be set and operated in any combination, there is provided a readable and writable storage means for temporarily storing the manually set manual courses; and a power supply means that constantly supplies the power necessary for the storage means to retain the memory contents, and a manual power supply means that is stored in advance in the read/write storage means by pressing within a predetermined time. A preset key is provided which has a function of reading out a course and a function of starting a manual course set by the input switch section, and the preset key is used to manually set the course just before the preset key is pressed continuously for more than the predetermined time. 1. An electronically controlled washing machine, characterized in that said manual course is newly stored in said readable and writable storage means. 2. The electronically controlled washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the fully automatic course is stored in read-only storage means whose stored contents cannot be manually erased or changed.