KR20000033973A - Washing machine equipped self diagnosing function and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A washing machine equipped a self diagnosing function is provided to find out a defective part and a defective cause by detecting a defect of each unit composed the washing machine and to check a diagnosed content about the defective part and the defective cause. CONSTITUTION: A user inputs a certain functional key for performing a washing among functional keys arranged in a selecting unit of function. A defect of each unit composed a washing machine is diagnosed according to a programmed diagnosing routine by replying the input of key. A defective part and a defective cause are displayed through a display unit according to a diagnosed result. An alarming sound is generated through an alarming unit. The user controls a key for checking the diagnosed records of defect. The diagnosed records of defect written up to now are displayed through the display unit to quickly and exactly perform a repair of the defect.

Description

Washing machine with self-diagnosis function and control method thereof

The present invention relates to a washing machine having a self-diagnosis function and a control method thereof, and in particular, a user can identify a failure point and a cause of failure by self-diagnosing a momentary power failure, a starting state of a washing motor, and a water level sensor during initial operation of the washing machine. Washing machine equipped with self-diagnosis function and control method that displays and alarms and saves the diagnosis contents to fill out the diagnosis history and enables the user to diagnose the problem quickly and accurately by referring to the history of the diagnosis. It is about.

In general, a washing machine performs washing strokes, rinsing strokes, and dehydrating strokes by rotating a rotating tub and a pulsator through a driving force of a motor, and putting washing water and laundry together inside the rotating tub and stirring them to wash laundry and washing. It is a device that washes using friction of water and rotating tub.

As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine is provided with a water tank 2 and a rotating tank 3 inside the main body case 1, and a pulsator for stirring the washing water inside the rotating tank 3. 4) is provided. In addition, a washing motor 5 for driving the rotating tank 3 and the pulsator 4 is installed below the water tank 2, and the driving force of the washing motor 5 is applied to the center of the bottom of the water tank 2. A clutch 6 for controlling power transmission is installed to selectively drive the rotary tub 3 and the pulsator 4 by receiving the transmission. An operation panel 7 is provided at one side of the door covering the upper part of the main body case 1. ) Is installed. In addition, there is provided a water level sensor (not shown) for detecting the water level of the wash water is installed in place of the main body case (1).

An operation of washing using the conventional washing machine will be described with reference to FIG. 2. 2 is a block diagram of a washing machine according to the prior art, which is provided with a power supply unit 11 for supplying driving power to each load, and a plurality of function keys for performing washing to generate a key signal according to a user's function selection. Water level detection unit 13 having a function selection unit 12, a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the wash water being supplied, a control unit 14 for controlling the overall operation for performing the washing, and the washing motor 5 The washing motor driving unit 15 for driving the washing unit, the display unit 16 for displaying the instruction phrases indicating the progress of the washing stroke and the rinsing stroke and the dehydration stroke when the washing is performed, and the alarm unit 17 for alarming the completion of the washing and the like. It consists of.

In the conventional washing machine configured as described above, when the pulsator 4 provided at the lower portion of the rotary tub 3 rotates by the rotation of the washing motor 5, washing is performed while the washing water and the laundry filled inside are stirred. You lose.

However, since the washing machine according to the prior art does not have a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing the failure of each component, it is not only difficult to find out the failure part and the cause of the failure, but also takes a long time when repairing the failure. there was.

Therefore, the present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to detect the failure site and the cause of the failure by detecting the failure of each part constituting the washing machine, and to diagnose the details of the failure site and the cause of the failure The present invention provides a washing machine having a self-diagnosis function for the user to check.

Another object of the present invention is to create a washing machine with a self-diagnosis function that allows the user to quickly and accurately repair the fault by referring to the fault diagnosis history by additionally writing the fault parts and causes of the faults to the fault diagnosis history. In providing.

Still another object of the present invention is to detect the failure of the constituents of the washing machine to display and alert the user to identify the failure site and the cause of the failure, as well as a washing machine with a self-diagnosis function to add to the failure diagnosis history To provide a control method of.

1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a typical washing machine,

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a washing machine according to the prior art,

3 is a block diagram of a washing machine having a self-diagnosis function according to the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a washing machine having a self-diagnosis function according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

21: power supply unit 22: momentary power failure detection unit

23: function selection unit 24: water level detection unit

25 control unit 26 washing motor drive unit

27: motor starting state detection unit 28: display unit

29: alarm unit 30: storage unit

An object of the present invention as described above is a power supply unit for supplying power, a washing motor for driving the rotating tank and the pulsator, a water level detection unit for detecting the water level of the water to be washed, washing operation key for performing the washing, etc. A washing machine having a function selection unit comprising a plurality of function keys, the washing machine comprising: sensing means for detecting a failure of each part of the washing machine; In case of detecting the failure by the detection means, each part is diagnosed according to the detection signal from the detection means to find out the location of the failure and the cause of the failure, and control to control the operation of displaying the details of the failure location and the cause of the failure. Way; And display means for displaying the faulty part and the fault cause by the control means.

Another object of the present invention as described above is a power supply unit for supplying power, a washing motor for driving the rotating tank and the pulsator, a water level detection unit for detecting the water level of the water to be washed, and a washing operation key for performing the washing A washing machine having a function selection unit including a plurality of function keys, the apparatus comprising: sensing means for detecting a failure of each unit constituting the washing machine; In the case of detecting the failure by the detection means, each part is diagnosed according to the detection signal from the detection means to find out the failure site and the cause of the failure, and the diagnosis and history of the failure site and the cause of the failure are displayed. Control means for controlling an operation to add to the; Display means for displaying a fault portion and a cause of the fault by the control means; And a storage means for storing the failure diagnosis history created by the control means.

Another object of the present invention as described above is a power supply unit for supplying power, a washing motor for driving the rotating tank and the pulsator, a water level sensing unit for detecting the water level of the water to be washed, washing performance for performing the washing A control method of a washing machine comprising a function selection unit consisting of a plurality of function keys, such as a key, a display unit for displaying a guide phrase, and an alarm unit for generating an alarm sound, wherein a user of the function keys provided in the function selection unit performs washing. A key input step of inputting a predetermined function key to perform; A diagnostic routine performing step of diagnosing whether or not a failure of each part constituting the washing machine is made according to a diagnostic routine already programmed in response to the key input of the key input step; A fault notification step of displaying a fault portion and a cause of the fault through the display unit and generating an alarm sound according to the diagnosis result of the diagnosis routine performing step; A fault diagnosis history generation step of adding a fault portion and a cause of failure according to the diagnosis result of the diagnosis routine execution step after the fault notification step is added to the already prepared fault diagnosis history; And after performing the fault diagnosis history creation step or in the key input step when the user operated a key for confirming the failure history diagnosis, the fault diagnosis history written so far to perform the troubleshooting quickly and accurately It is achieved by the fault diagnosis history display step displayed through the display unit.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Washing machine applied to the present invention is the same as the general washing machine shown in Figure 1, it will be described with the same reference numerals. As shown in Figure 1, the washing machine applied to the present invention is provided with a water tank (2) and a rotating tank (3) inside the main body case (1), the washing water in the rotating tank (3) A pulsator 4 for stirring is provided, and a washing motor 5 for driving the rotary tank 3 and the pulsator 4 is provided below the water tank 2. In addition, a clutch 6 for selectively driving the rotating tank 3 and the pulsator 4 by receiving the driving force of the washing motor 5 is installed at the center of the bottom of the water tank 2, and the main body case 1. The operation panel 7 is installed on one side of the door covering the upper part of the door.

3 is a block diagram of a washing machine having a self-diagnosis function according to the present invention. The present invention provides a power supply unit 21 for supplying power to each load, and a washing motor driving unit 15 for driving the washing motor 5. ), A water level detecting unit 24 for detecting the water level of the water to be supplied, a function selecting unit 23 including a plurality of function keys such as a washing execution key for performing washing and a regeneration history recording key, and A display unit 28 for displaying a guide phrase and an alarm unit 29 for generating an alarm sound are provided. In addition, the present invention is the instantaneous power failure detection unit 22 and outputs a detection signal when the frequency of the power supplied from the power supply unit 21 is out of the allowable range by the instantaneous power failure and the starting state of the washing motor 5 According to the present invention, the motor start state detecting unit 27 outputs a square wave signal and outputs a square wave signal of a frequency higher or lower than a set frequency when the washing motor 5 is not started. The power supply is supplied from the power supply unit 21. The power supply state is diagnosed according to the detection signal of the momentary power failure detection unit 22 so that a user can check the state and the starting state of the washing motor 5 and the failure of the water level detection unit 24. Diagnose the starting state of the washing motor 5 according to the square wave signal of the state detection unit 27 and diagnose the defective state of the water level sensor according to the output signal of the water level sensor of the water level detection unit 24. Breakdown A control unit 25 for displaying an phosphorus through the display unit 28 and generating an alarm sound through the alarm unit 29, and controlling the operation of adding the diagnosis content to the failure diagnosis history; and the control unit. And a storage unit 30 for storing the diagnosis contents under the control of (25).

The instantaneous power failure detection unit 22 detects a power failure by a sudden decrease in current during instantaneous power failure, and is implemented well using, for example, a current transformer.

The instantaneous power failure detection unit 22 outputs a predetermined detection signal to the control unit 25 when the frequency of the power supplied from the power supply unit 21 is outside the allowable range, for example, 56 to 65 Hz. The control unit 25 diagnoses the power supply state from the power supply unit 21 by this detection signal.

The motor starting state detection unit 27 outputs a square wave signal corresponding to the set frequency to the control unit 25 when the washing motor 5 starts normally, while the washing motor 5 malfunctions when the washing motor 5 malfunctions. A square wave signal corresponding to a greater or lower frequency is output to the controller 25. The controller 25 diagnoses the starting state of the washing motor 5 in accordance with the square wave signal.

The water level detection unit 24 is provided with a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the wash water provided in place of the main body case (1), the water level sensor is made of a ferrite core output signal of a predetermined frequency at power supply Is output to the control unit 25. The level sensor outputs an output signal of approximately 26 kHz to the control unit 25 as an allowable range in the normal state, and outputs an output signal of a frequency outside the allowable range to the control unit 25 in the bad state. The controller 25 diagnoses a defective state of the water level sensor according to the output signal.

In addition, if it is determined that a failure has occurred according to a diagnosis result, the controller 25 displays a failure portion and a cause of failure through the display unit 28, and alarms through the alarm unit 29. Will be generated.

In addition, the control unit 25 controls the operation of adding the failure site and the cause of failure to the failure diagnosis history already created in the storage unit 30. The storage unit 30 stores the power supply state from the power supply unit 21, the starting state of the washing motor 5, and the defective state of the water level sensor in addition to the already prepared fault diagnosis history.

The control unit 24 displays, through the display unit 28, the failure diagnosis history up to the present stored in the storage unit 30 when the user key-operates the failure diagnosis history playback key through the function selection unit 23. To control the operation.

Hereinafter, a control method of a washing machine having a self-diagnosis function according to the present invention will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG. 4.

First, when power is supplied to the washing machine, the user selects a predetermined function by operating a desired function key among the function keys provided in the function selecting unit 23 in step S101. In step S102, the control unit 25 analyzes a key signal input through the function selection unit 23 to determine whether the user performs a washing key for washing.

If the user determines that the washing operation key is not operated as a result of the determination at step S102, the process proceeds to step S109, whereas when the user performs the key operation of the washing execution key at the determination result of the step S102, the operation is performed at step S103. The control unit 25 receives the detection signal from the momentary power failure detection unit 22 to diagnose whether the power supply from the power supply unit 21 is in a normal state, and the frequency of the power supplied from the power supply unit 21 is allowed. For example, in the range of 56 to 65 Hz, the instantaneous power failure detection unit 22 does not output the detection signal and outputs the detection signal when the frequency of the power supplied from the power supply unit 21 is out of the allowable range by the momentary power failure. Therefore, it is possible to diagnose whether the power supply from the power supply unit 21 is in a normal state based on the detection signal.

Subsequently, in step S104, the control unit 25 diagnoses the starting state of the washing motor 25. The control unit 25 controls the washing motor driving unit 26 in a state where power is supplied to the washing machine. The washing motor 5 is diagnosed according to a detection signal of the motor starting state detecting unit 27 when starting the washing motor 5. That is, when the washing motor 5 starts normally, the motor starting state detecting unit 27 outputs a square wave signal corresponding to the set frequency, and when the washing motor 5 malfunctions, the washing motor 5 operates at a frequency higher or lower than the set frequency. Since the corresponding square wave signal is outputted, it is possible to diagnose whether the washing motor 5 is in a normal state based on the square wave signal.

Subsequently, in step S105, the control unit 25 diagnoses a defect of the water level sensor of the water level detecting unit 24, that is, the frequency of the detection signal of the water level detecting unit 24, that is, the output signal of the water level sensor. Is an acceptable range, for example, about 26 kHz, it is possible to detect the water level normally.If the frequency of the output signal of the water level sensor is out of the allowable range, the water level of the water to be supplied is incorrectly detected, so that the error in the actual water level is large. Since it can detect the failure can be diagnosed by the output signal from the water level sensor.

As described above, when performing the process of diagnosing the failure of the power supply and the washing motor and the water level sensor in step S103, step S104 and step S105, the control unit 25 in step S106 Determine if a failure has occurred.

When a failure occurs as a result of the determination in step S106, that is, the frequency of the power supplied from the power supply unit 21 is out of the allowable range due to a momentary power failure, or the starting state of the washing motor 5 is unstable or the water level is low. If the sensor is bad, it is determined that a failure has occurred, and in step S107, the control unit 25 displays the failure site and the cause of failure through the display unit 28, and the alarm unit 29. ) Will generate a beep.

On the other hand, if a failure does not occur as a result of the determination in step S106, the process proceeds to step S111 to perform a function selected by the user and then ends.

After displaying and alarming the failure site and the cause of failure in step S107, in step S108, the control unit 25 adds the failure site and the cause of failure to the failure diagnosis history already stored in the storage unit 30. do.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S102 that the user does not key the washing operation key or created a failure diagnosis history in step S108 in step S109 the control unit 25 checks the user failure diagnosis history in step S109. It is determined whether or not the key for operating the fault diagnosis history key is operated. As a result of the determination in step S109, when the user key-operates the failure diagnosis history regeneration key, in step S110, the control unit 25 stores the failure diagnosis stored in the storage unit 30 to reproduce the failure diagnosis history created so far. The history is read out, displayed through the display unit 28, and then terminated.

As described above, the present invention can be easily confirmed by the user by diagnosing the momentary power failure due to the instability of the power supply during the initial operation of the washing machine, the starting state of the washing motor, and the failure of the water level sensor to display and alarm the diagnosis contents. In addition, by writing the fault part and cause of the fault diagnosis history, the user can quickly and accurately repair the fault by referring to the fault diagnosis history.

Claims (7)

A function consisting of a plurality of function keys such as a power supply unit for supplying power, a washing motor for driving the rotating tank and the pulsator, a water level sensing unit for detecting the level of the water to be supplied, and a washing execution key for performing the washing. In the washing machine provided with a selection part, Sensing means for detecting a failure of each part constituting the washing machine; In case of detecting the failure by the detection means, each part is diagnosed according to the detection signal from the detection means to find out the location of the failure and the cause of the failure, and control to control the operation of displaying the details of the failure location and the cause of the failure. Way; And Washing machine having a self-diagnosis function, characterized in that it comprises a display means for displaying the failure portion and the cause of failure by the control means. A function consisting of a plurality of function keys such as a power supply unit for supplying power, a washing motor for driving the rotating tank and the pulsator, a water level sensing unit for detecting the level of the water to be supplied, and a washing execution key for performing the washing. In the washing machine provided with a selection part, Sensing means for detecting a failure of each part constituting the washing machine; In the case of detecting the failure by the detection means, each part is diagnosed according to the detection signal from the detection means to find out the failure site and the cause of the failure, and the diagnosis and history of the failure site and the cause of the failure are displayed. Control means for controlling an operation to add to the; Display means for displaying a fault portion and a cause of the fault by the control means; And Washing machine having a self-diagnosis function, characterized in that it comprises a storage means for storing the failure diagnosis history created by the control means. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The sensing means may include a momentary power outage sensing unit configured to sense an instantaneous power failure according to a frequency of power supplied from the power supply unit; And Washing machine having a self-diagnosis function comprising a motor starting state detection unit for detecting a poor starting state of the washing motor. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The control means diagnoses the power supply state according to the detection signal of the instantaneous power failure detection unit, diagnoses the starting state of the washing motor according to the square wave signal of the motor starting state detection unit, and the water level according to the output signal of the water level sensor of the water level detection unit. Washing machine with a self-diagnosis function, characterized in that for diagnosing a defective state of the sensor. The method of claim 3, The instantaneous power failure detection unit is a washing machine having a self-diagnosis function, characterized in that the current transformer (current transformer) for detecting a momentary power failure by a sudden decrease in current during the momentary power failure. A function consisting of a plurality of function keys such as a power supply unit for supplying power, a washing motor for driving the rotating tank and the pulsator, a water level sensing unit for detecting the level of the water to be supplied, and a washing execution key for performing the washing. In the control method of the washing machine comprising a selection unit, a display unit for displaying a guide phrase and an alarm unit for generating an alarm sound, A key input step of inputting a predetermined function key for washing by a user among function keys provided in the function selection unit; A diagnostic routine performing step of diagnosing whether or not a failure of each part constituting the washing machine is made according to a diagnostic routine already programmed in response to the key input of the key input step; A fault notification step of displaying a fault portion and a cause of the fault through the display unit and generating an alarm sound according to the diagnosis result of the diagnosis routine performing step; A fault diagnosis history generation step of adding a fault portion and a cause of failure according to the diagnosis result of the diagnosis routine execution step after the fault notification step is added to the already prepared fault diagnosis history; And After performing the fault diagnosis history creation step or when the user operates a key for confirming the fault history diagnosis in the key input step, the display unit displays the fault diagnosis history written up to now so that the troubleshooting can be performed quickly and accurately. Control method of the washing machine with a self-diagnostic function, characterized in that it comprises a fault diagnosis history display step of displaying through. The method of claim 6, The diagnostic routine performing step includes: a power supply diagnostic routine for diagnosing a state in which the frequency of the power supplied from the power supply unit is out of an acceptable range by a momentary power interruption, and whether a square wave signal of a set frequency is output due to an unstable starting state of the washing motor; Washing motor diagnostic routine for diagnosing, and the water level sensor diagnostic routine for diagnosing the state of the frequency of the output signal of the water level sensor is outside the allowable range.