KR20050049922A - Method for controlling of smart washer using the home network - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control method of a smart washing machine using a home network in which a washing machine itself performs a communication necessary for operation control in a home equipped with a home network and automatically changes the number of rinses based on a residual detergent concentration value after washing. After rinsing and draining after washing, measuring the detergent concentration in the drain portion in the detergent concentration measuring device in the washing machine; comparing the detergent concentration measurement value and the set reference value in the washing machine to perform additional rinsing according to the result Transmitting a question message asking the user; performing a further rinsing based on the user's response message.

Description

Method for controlling smart washer using home network {Method for controlling of smart washer using the home network}

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a smart washing machine using a home network, in which a home network is provided, the washing machine itself performs communication necessary for controlling operations and automatically changes the number of rinses based on the residual detergent concentration value after washing. It relates to a control method.

In general, a washing machine is a device that removes contaminants from contaminated laundry through washing, rinsing, and dehydration according to a predetermined algorithm, and is fully automatic using horizontal rotation of a rotary blade, outer tank, or inner tank (washing tank / dehydrating tank). A washing machine or a drum washing machine using vertical rotation of the drum can be broadly classified.

In order to respond to various needs of the user, such a washing machine has been developed with various washing courses and functions and applied to actual products.

Hereinafter, a washing machine according to the prior art will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a washing machine according to the prior art, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a home network system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine according to the related art includes a motor 11 for directly or indirectly rotating a washing blade, an inner tank, or an outer tank, and various other loads 12 such as a water supply valve and a drain valve. A key input unit 13 for a user to input various washing-related operation commands, a display unit 14 for displaying an operation state or a function of a washing machine, and a key input unit 13 are inputted. The microcomputer 15 for controlling the driving of the motor 11 and the load 12 so as to perform a washing operation corresponding to a user's operation command, and controlling the display unit 14 to display a corresponding operation state or function. It is configured to include.

At this time, the display unit 14 is mainly used to display the state of use by the LED (Light Emitting Diode), the microcomputer (15) is provided with a ROM (ROM) for storing a laundry-related program.

Referring to the operation of the washing machine according to the prior art configured as described above are as follows.

First, the user 'turns on' the power of the washing machine, puts laundry into the washing tank, and then selects a course according to the type of laundry through the key input unit 13, switches the function to manual mode, or inputs a washing command.

Subsequently, the microcomputer 15 recognizes the washing instruction input through the key input unit 13, reads the washing program from an internal ROM (not shown), and drives the motor 11 and the load 12 based on the washing program. Carry out the laundry.

After the washing stroke is completed, drain and proceed with the next stroke, such as rinsing and dehydration.

Here, the microcomputer 15 controls the current washing progress to be displayed on the display unit 14.

At this time, the display unit 14 displays the washing progress state and the like according to the control signal of the microcomputer 15.

The washing machine having such a configuration was not able to remotely control the washing machine from the outside because the user had to operate the washing machine by directly operating a function button, and the washing machine can be operated by using a reservation function when going out, but it operates according to a predetermined reservation program. Could not be confirmed.

In order to solve such a problem, a method of building a home network system to enable remote control of various home appliances including a washing machine has been applied.

In the early stages of home automation, which automatically controlled home appliances at home or remotely, each device was controlled by telephone or infrared, and there was no connection between the devices. A home network system has been commercialized to establish a network between home appliances using a communication means and have a controller for controlling the integrated management.

Referring to the schematic configuration of a home network system, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of home electronic devices, such as a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a microwave oven, a washing machine, a personal computer (PC), and the like are connected through a communication bus, It is composed.

Many microcomputers applied to home appliances have a built-in serial communication function so that they can communicate with other microcomputers or devices.

However, the control of the washing machine in the prior art described above has the following problems.

In the prior art, even if the degree of rinsing is insufficient after the washing is finished, the washing process may be terminated according to a value set by the user, so that the laundry may not be completely rinsed and the detergent may remain.

In particular, even in the case of using an excessive amount of detergent compared to the type of laundry or the amount of laundry, there is a problem that the laundry is discolored or discolored because the washing process is performed by a predetermined washing process.

The present invention is to solve the problems in the control of the washing machine of the prior art as described above, the washing machine itself in the home network is equipped with the communication necessary for the operation control and rinse based on the residual detergent concentration value after washing An object of the present invention is to provide a control method of a smart washing machine using a home network that automatically changes the number of times.

In the control method of the smart washing machine using the home network according to the present invention for achieving the above object, if the rinsing and drainage after the washing stroke, measuring the detergent concentration in the drain in the detergent concentration measuring apparatus in the washing machine Comparing the detergent concentration measurement value with the set reference value in the washing machine and transmitting a question message to the user asking whether to perform an additional rinse according to the result; performing an additional rinse based on the user's response message. It features.

Here, the washing machine transmits a question message to the user only when the reference value is smaller than the measured value of the detergent concentration.

After the question message is transmitted to the user, if the response message is not received from the user within a predetermined time, the washing machine additionally rinses the predetermined number of times.

And if it does not receive a response message from the user within a set time it is characterized in that the step of performing one additional rinse and measuring and determining the detergent concentration until the measured value is smaller than the reference value.

The question message transmitted from the washing machine to the user may include a difference between the reference value and the measured value of the detergent concentration, and an additional recommended number of rinses calculated by the washing machine according to the difference.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments.

A preferred embodiment of a method for controlling a smart washing machine using a home network according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a block diagram for controlling a washing machine using a home network according to the present invention.

The present invention is to intelligently determine the washing machine among a plurality of home appliances connected to the home network (smart washing machine) by using the detergent concentration measuring device attached to the washing machine to measure the detergent concentration of the drainage of the residual detergent The number of rinses is adjusted according to the concentration value.

This is to prevent deterioration of efficiency due to unnecessary rinsing or insufficient rinsing. The washing machine sends a message to the user about whether to perform an additional rinsing and the washing machine adds a rinsing stroke or a subsequent washing stroke according to the user's response message. It is.

That is, after draining after the final rinsing, the washing machine can control the washing process through communication with the user, such as sending a message to the user asking whether to add the rinse by themselves according to the detergent concentration in the drain.

The configuration for controlling the washing machine using such a home network is the same as in FIG. 3.

It is connected to a communication network such as the Internet 31 to perform communication with the user, control at a remote location, and update data necessary for operating the device through the manufacturer's site, and connect each home appliance to a home network and The home network manager 32 manages communication with other product lines or the Internet and the home network, and the home network manager 32 is connected to an external communication network such as the Internet, and after draining after the final rinse stroke, The washing machine 33 is largely configured to perform intelligent control such as the transmission of a message asking the user's opinion on the addition of the number of rinses based on the measured detergent concentration of the drainage part.

Here, the user remotely controls the washing machine 33 or transmits a message by the request of the washing machine 33 by using a communication means such as another PC or a personal portable terminal from the outside through the home network manager 32.

The rinsing control method according to the detergent concentration of the drain using the home network system having such a configuration is as follows.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a washing machine using a home network according to the present invention.

Operation control of the washing machine according to the present invention can directly control the washing machine, or can be controlled remotely using a home network.

To this end, the present invention has a step of receiving a question message about the addition of the number of rinses sent from the washing machine and transmitting a response message.

First, when the washing stroke is performed in the washing machine and drainage is performed after the final rinsing (S401), the detergent concentration in the drainage part is measured using the detergent concentration measuring device of the washing machine itself (S402).

Subsequently, the detergent concentration value measured by the microcomputer of the washing machine is compared with the set reference value (S403) to determine whether additional rinsing is necessary.

Here, the reference value is set to a concentration value at which the detergent does not remain in the laundry so as not to cause damage to the laundry and to damage the user of the garment.

And the detergent concentration measuring device uses an anion meter for measuring the conductivity of the wash water.

If the determination result is less than or equal to the reference value, the washing process after the rinsing is performed (S408), or the washing machine transmits a question message about whether to further rinse the washing machine (S404).

The question message is a home network manager or other home appliance connected to a home network. For example, a user may receive a message externally by using a medium capable of receiving a message, such as a PC or a TV, or by using the Internet or a communication network. Other communication media may be used.

The question message transmitted to the user includes the difference between the reference value and the measured value and the recommended number of additional rinses (calculated by the microcomputer of the washing machine) according to the difference.

After transmitting the question message, it is determined whether a response message is received from the user within the set time (S405).

Herein, the setting time is set in consideration of a sufficient time for the user to receive a message transmitted from the washing machine and determine whether to add a rinse based on the received contents, preferably 30 minutes.

If the response message from the user is not received within the set time, the washing machine additionally rinses the set number of times based on the self-calculated result.

Rinsing is further performed as many times as set as described above, and the detergent concentration of the drainage part is measured again (S402), and the measured value is compared with the reference value.

Of course, it is also possible to repeat the step of measuring the detergent concentration in the drain after one additional rinse and comparing the measured value with the reference value again until no detergent remains in the laundry.

If there is a reply from the user within the set time, it is determined whether the user wants to perform further rinsing (S407), and if the user wants to perform additional rinsing, the user rinses as many times as desired (S409). The detergent concentration is measured and compared again.

If the user does not want to perform further rinsing, the subsequent washing process is performed.

Such a control method of a smart washing machine using a home network according to the present invention measures the detergent concentration of the drain using a device attached to the washing machine and asks the user whether to perform an additional rinse cycle according to the residual detergent concentration value. On the basis of the user's choice or the result of the washing machine's own judgment, additional rinsing of the laundry is performed so that no detergent residues remain in the laundry after washing.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

Such a control method of a smart washing machine using a home network according to the present invention has the following effects.

According to the present invention, when the drainage is performed after rinsing in the washing machine, the detergent concentration measuring device in the washing machine measures the detergent concentration in the drain, and according to the result, the washing machine transmits a message to the user asking whether to add the rinsing or rinses itself. In addition, the detergent does not remain in the laundry so that the user's convenience can be increased, and damage to the laundry can be suppressed.

The present invention as described above provides a next generation home networking system that can maximize the convenience of control for washing by an intelligent washing machine in a home equipped with a home network.

1 is a block diagram of a typical washing machine

2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a home network system

3 is a block diagram for the control of the washing machine using a home network according to the present invention

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a washing machine using a home network according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

31.Internet 32.Home Network Manager

33. Washing machine

Claims (7)

After rinsing and draining after washing, Measuring the detergent concentration in the drain in the detergent concentration measuring apparatus in the washing machine; Comparing the detergent concentration measurement value and the set reference value in the washing machine and transmitting a question message to the user asking whether to perform an additional rinse according to the result; The control method of the smart washing machine using a home network comprising the step of performing an additional rinse based on the user's response message. The method of claim 1, wherein the washing machine transmits a question message to the user only when the reference value is smaller than the measured value of the detergent concentration. The method of claim 1, wherein if the washing machine does not receive a response message from the user within a predetermined time after the question message is transmitted to the user, the washing machine additionally rinses a predetermined number of times. The home network according to claim 3, wherein if the response message is not received from the user within the set time, the step of additional rinsing and measuring and determining the detergent concentration is repeated until the measured value is smaller than the reference value. Smart washing machine control method. The method of claim 1, wherein when the response message is received from the user within the set time, the user performs additional rinsing as many times as the user wants according to the contents of the response message, and then the detergent concentration in the drainage is measured and compared with the reference value. Smart washing machine control method using a network. The method according to claim 1, wherein if it is determined that the user does not want to add a rinse as a result of receiving the response message from the user, the subsequent washing stroke is executed immediately regardless of the result of comparing the measured value of the detergent concentration with the reference value. Smart washing machine control method using a home network. The method of claim 1, wherein the question message transmitted from the washing machine to the user includes a difference between the reference value and the measured value of the detergent concentration, and the additional recommended number of rinses calculated by the washing machine according to the difference. Control method of smart washing machine.