WO2018135502A1 - Household electric appliance and household electric appliance control system - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a household electric appliance equipped with: a body at least a portion of which includes a variable color region that can display a color by switching between multiple colors; and a control unit for electrically controlling the switching of the color being displayed by the variable color region.

Description

Home appliances and home appliance control systems

This disclosure relates to home appliances and home appliance control systems.

In recent years, various home appliances such as air conditioners and washing machines have been improved in performance, and users have enjoyed the convenience of higher performance. For example, for air conditioners, models equipped with an automatic cleaning function (for example, disclosed in Patent Document 1) that automatically cleans a filter at a predetermined frequency are gaining popularity. Moreover, about the washing machine, the disinfection / deodorization function (for example, proposed in Patent Document 2) has attracted attention.

JP 2004360995 A JP 2009-66217 A

However, on the other hand, so-called commoditization has occurred in some products of home appliances as technology matures. Therefore, it is required to add new added value to home appliances.

The embodiment of the present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a home electric appliance and a home electric appliance control system having unprecedented added value.

A home electric appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing that includes at least a part of a color variable region that can be displayed by switching a plurality of colors, and a control unit that electrically controls switching of the color that the color variable region exhibits, Is provided.

In one embodiment, the plurality of colors include two or more colors associated with the state of the home appliance.

In one embodiment, the control unit performs control so that the color variable region exhibits a color corresponding to a current state of the home appliance among the two or more colors.

In one embodiment, the plurality of colors includes two or more colors associated with emotions.

In one embodiment, the control unit controls the home appliance to express an emotion by switching the color of the color variable region between the two or more colors associated with the emotion. I do.

In one embodiment, the plurality of colors include colors that amplify an effect due to an original function of the home appliance.

In one embodiment, the control unit performs control so that the color variable region exhibits the color that amplifies the effect when the home appliance performs an original function.

In one embodiment, the home appliance further includes a sound output unit that can switch and output a plurality of sound effects according to control by the control unit.

In one embodiment, in a state where the color variable region exhibits one color of the plurality of colors, the sound output unit, in the first case, includes the first of the plurality of sound effects. In the second case different from the first case, a second sound effect different from the first sound effect among the plurality of sound effects is output.

In one embodiment, the color variable region includes a light control layer whose transmittance or reflectance with respect to incident light changes according to control by the control unit.

In one embodiment, the color variable region is a back layer disposed on the back side of the light control layer, and further includes a back layer of a predetermined color.

In one embodiment, the color variable region does not have an air layer between the light control layer and the back layer.

In one embodiment, the color variable region is a planar light emitting layer that emits light in a planar shape, and includes a planar light emitting layer that switches and emits a plurality of color lights in accordance with control by the control unit.

In one embodiment, the area of the color variable region is 12% or more of the area of the entire outer surface of the housing.

A home appliance control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure receives a signal from the outside, and a home appliance having a housing, a control unit that is mounted on the home appliance, or that is communicably connected to the home appliance A home appliance control system including furniture and / or a wall material including an input interface, wherein the furniture and / or the wall material includes at least a part of a color variable region that can be switched between a plurality of colors, The control unit electrically controls switching of colors exhibited by the color variable region.

In one embodiment, the housing of the home appliance also includes the color variable region at least in part.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, a home electric appliance and a home electric appliance control system having unprecedented added value are provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a household electrical appliance 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the household appliances 100 typically. (A) is a figure which shows the state in which the color variable area 10 of the household appliances 100 is exhibiting the 1st color C1. (B) is a diagram showing a state in which the color variable region 10 exhibits a second color C2 different from the first color C1. (A) is a figure which shows the state in which the color variable area | region 10 of 100 A of air conditioners is exhibiting the cool color (blue). (B) is a figure which shows the state in which the color variable area | region 10 of 100 A of air conditioners is exhibiting warm color (orange). (A) is a figure which shows the state in which the color variable area | region 10 of the robot cleaner 100B is exhibiting black. (B) is a figure which shows the state in which the color variable area | region 10 of the robot cleaner 100B is exhibiting yellow. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the color switching control by the control part 2, when the household appliances 100 are vacuum cleaners and the color variable area | region 10 exhibits the color corresponding to the state of a vacuum cleaner. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of color switching control by the control unit 2 when the home appliance 100 is an air conditioner and the color variable region 10 exhibits a color that amplifies the effect of the air conditioner. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the color switching control by the control part 2, when the household appliances 100 are robot cleaners, and the color variable area | region 10 exhibits the color matched with the emotion. It is a figure which shows the other example of schematic structure of the household appliances. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the household appliance control system. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the household appliance control system 400A. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the household appliance control system 400B. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the household appliance control system 400C. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of household appliance control system 400D. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the color variable area | region 210 in the desk 200A. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the color variable area | region 210 in the shelf 200B. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a configuration of a color variable region 10. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the principle in which a color is switched about the case where the light control layer 11 which absorbs the light of a specific wavelength range is used. It is a figure for demonstrating the principle in which a color is switched about the case where the light control layer 11 which reflects the light of a specific wavelength range is used. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an installation example of a color variable region 10. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another installation example of the color variable region 10. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another installation example of the color variable region 10. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another installation example of the color variable region 10. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another installation example of the color variable region 10. It is sectional drawing which shows the example of the color variable area | region 10 containing the light control layer 11 of the system using the flakes 15. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the state in which the DC voltage was applied to the optical layer 11c of the light control layer 11. FIG. (B) is a figure which shows the state in which the high frequency alternating voltage was applied to the optical layer 11c of the light control layer 11. FIG. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the result of having applied a voltage to the optical layer 11c of the light control cell made as an experiment, and having performed enlarged observation. (A) is a microscopic image when the applied voltage is a DC voltage of 2V. (B) is a microscopic image when the applied voltage is 60 Hz and an AC voltage of 2V. (A) And (b) is the side view and top view which show the color variable area | region 10 containing the planar light emitting layer 18. FIG. 4 is a side view showing another example of the color variable region 10 including the planar light emitting layer 18. FIG.

The inventor of the present application has conceived of creating new added value by amplifying the effect of the function of the home appliance and allowing the user to sensuously read the operating state of the home appliance. In addition, it has also been noted that it has been difficult for users to feel attached to home appliances. The embodiment of the present disclosure has been made based on the above idea of the present inventor.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the configurations exemplified below.

[Schematic configuration of home appliances]
In the present disclosure, the “home appliance” refers to an electric device designed on the assumption that it is mainly used at home. “Household appliances” include air conditioners (air conditioners), air cleaners, vacuum cleaners, electric washing machines, refrigerators, cooking appliances (for example, electric rice cookers and automatic cooking pots), and the like.

A home appliance 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the home appliance 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of the home appliance 100.

The household electrical appliance 100 includes a housing (body) 1 and a control unit 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The housing 1 is an exterior of the home appliance 100 and accommodates at least a part (typically most) of the components of the home appliance 100 therein. Although the box-shaped housing | casing 1 is illustrated in FIG. 1, the specific shape of the housing | casing 1 is not limited to this.

The housing 1 includes a color variable region 10 at least in part. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the color variable region 10 is disposed on substantially the entire front surface of the home appliance 100. The color variable region 10 can present a plurality of colors by switching. A specific configuration of the color variable region 10 will be described in detail later. A portion of the housing 1 other than the color variable region 10 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “housing main body”) is formed of, for example, a metal material or a resin material.

The control unit (control circuit) 2 electrically controls the color switching exhibited by the color variable region 10. The control unit 2 includes, for example, a CPU as a calculation unit, and a ROM and a RAM as storage units. The CPU is a semiconductor integrated circuit that performs digital signal processing. A program for controlling the color conversion area 10 is stored in the ROM. A program is expanded in the RAM. When home appliance 100 is activated, a program is read from ROM to RAM. Note that a control unit (controller) for controlling the original function of the home appliance 100 may also serve as the control unit 2 for switching the color of the color conversion region 10. In that case, a program for controlling the original function of the home appliance 100 is also stored in the ROM.

The home appliance 100 having the above-described configuration can switch the color of the color variable region 10 of the housing 1 by electrical control performed by the control unit 2. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the color variable area 10 exhibits the first color C1, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the color variable area 10 becomes the first color C1. Can switch between states exhibiting a different second color C2.

¡Color can be used as a means of communication by associating a person with something concrete or abstract, or by symbolizing something. Therefore, the home appliance 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure uses the color psychological effects as described above to express the state of the home appliance 100 or as if the home appliance 100 expresses emotion. It can be shown or the user's psychological state can be guided in a better direction. As described above, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to give a new value added to the home appliance 100 that has not been conventionally available.

In addition, in a conventional home appliance, it is possible to make the user recognize the state of the home appliance by disposing an explanatory part with characters on the surface of the housing and lighting an LED provided adjacent thereto. However, this method has a problem that characters are difficult to read or cannot be intuitively understood. Furthermore, there is a problem that the lighting of the LED is annoying at night. Further, in conventional home appliances, it is possible to make the user recognize the state of the home appliance by providing a display element (for example, a liquid crystal display element) to display characters or outputting sound. However, the provision of the display element increases the manufacturing cost, and the act of reading characters is not intuitive. In addition, there is a problem that voice is not suitable for driving at night.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the color of the casing 1 itself (more specifically, the color of the color variable region 10) is switched by electrical control by the control unit 2, and thus the above-described problem occurs. Not (or unlikely to occur). In addition, since it is not necessary to use characters, simple expressions (that is, expressions that can be easily understood by the user) can be performed for the user.

Hereinafter, the color exhibited by the color variable area 10 will be described in detail.

[Colors exhibited by the color variable area]
The plurality of colors exhibited by the color variable region 10 include, for example, two or more colors associated with the state of the home appliance 100. In this case, the control unit 2 performs control so that the color variable region 10 exhibits a color corresponding to the current state of the home appliance 100 among two or more colors associated with the state. When the control unit 2 has the configuration exemplified, for example, a table that defines the correspondence between the state of the home appliance 100 and the color may be stored in the storage unit (ROM).

Alternatively, the plurality of colors exhibited by the color variable region 10 include two or more colors associated with emotions. In this case, the control unit 2 performs control as if the home appliance 100 expresses the emotion by switching the color of the color variable region 10 between two or more colors associated with the emotion. When the control unit 2 has the configuration exemplified, for example, a table that defines the correspondence between emotions and colors may be stored in the storage unit (ROM).

Alternatively, the plurality of colors exhibited by the color variable region 10 include colors that amplify the effect of the original function of the home appliance 100. In this case, the control unit 2 performs control so that the color variable region 10 exhibits a color that amplifies the effect when the home appliance 100 performs the original function. In the case where the control unit 2 has the configuration exemplified, for example, a table that defines the correspondence relationship between the effect of the function of the home appliance 100 and the color may be stored in the storage unit (ROM).

The plurality of colors presented by the color variable region 10 are two types of the above-described three types of colors (colors associated with states, colors associated with emotions, and colors that amplify the effect). The above may be included.

As the universal psychological effects of color, there are known cold feeling, lightness, softness, flashy plainness, advancement / retreat effect, expansion / contraction effect, etc. By using these effects, the state of the home appliance 100 can be expressed, the home appliance 100 can be expressed as if it is expressing emotions, or the effect of the original function of the home appliance 100 can be amplified. Can do.

For example, the cold / warm feeling has a correlation with the hue. Colors such as red, orange and yellow are called warm colors because they feel warm. In addition, colors such as blue-green and blue are called cold because they feel cold (cold). For example, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the home appliance 100 is an air conditioner 100A, the color variable region 10 is disposed in a conspicuous portion (front surface here) of the housing 1. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the color of the color variable region 10 is changed to a cold color (for example, blue), the user feels cooler than the actual set temperature. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the color of the color variable region 10 is changed to a warm color (for example, orange), the user feels warmer than the actual set temperature. Therefore, it is possible to amplify the effect of the original function of the air conditioner 100A.

Sense of lightness correlates with brightness. Colors with high lightness give a light impression, and colors with low lightness give a heavy impression. Therefore, for example, when the color variable region 10 is arranged in the housing 1 of the vacuum cleaner and the brightness of the color variable region 10 is lowered, it is possible to give an impression that the amount of dust in the vacuum cleaner increases and the vacuum cleaner becomes heavy. . Conversely, when the brightness of the color variable region 10 is increased, the amount of dust in the cleaner is small, and the cleaner can give a light impression. However, in order to avoid making the vacuum cleaner feel heavy, the brightness may be lowered rapidly when the garbage is almost full.

In addition, by arranging the color variable area 10 in a part (for example, a lid) of the casing 1 of the washing machine and reducing the lightness of the color variable area 10, the state in which the amount of laundry input is excessive is expressed. Can do. Conversely, by increasing the brightness of the color variable region 10, it is possible to express how the laundry has become lighter after dehydration and drying have been completed.

Hardness and softness are also correlated with brightness. Colors with high lightness give a soft impression, and colors with low lightness give a hard impression. Therefore, for example, in a cooking home appliance that can cook boiled food, the brightness of the color variable region 10 of the housing 1 is lowered at the start of cooking, and the brightness gradually increases as the cooking time elapses (that is, as cooking progresses). By making it high, the softness of the food material (that is, it becomes softer by heating) can be conveyed to the user sensuously. Further, when the cooking time is set in advance, a function such as timer display can be realized by the color of the color variable area 10.

Also, warm colors have the effect of increasing appetite, and cold colors have the effect of suppressing appetite. Therefore, in a cooking home appliance, the effect of making the meal feel delicious by changing the color of the color variable region 10 from a cold color (or achromatic color) to a warm color as cooking approaches completion is expected. In this case, it can be said that the user's psychological state is guided in a better direction.

Also, colors can remind humans of emotions such as “joy” and “loneliness”. Therefore, by switching the color of the color variable region 10, it is possible to make the home appliance 100 appear as if it is expressing emotion. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the home appliance 100 is a robot cleaner 100 </ b> B, the color variable region 10 is arranged in a conspicuous portion (upper surface portion here) of the housing 1. As shown in FIG. 5A, by making the color of the color variable region 10 black, it is possible to make the robot cleaner 100B feel lonely. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, by changing the color of the color variable region 10 to yellow, the robot cleaner 100B can appear to be happy.

The color representing the emotion of the home appliance 100 may represent the current state or may be set in advance. For example, an anniversary may be set in advance, and the color of the color variable area 10 may be yellow or red representing pleasure on that day.

Further, the color representing the state at that time may be something that gives the home appliance 100 a sense of familiarity. For example, in a vacuum cleaner, the color of the color conversion area 10 is usually set to blue representing quietness, and is changed to red that gives an active impression when the amount of dust increases and the burden on the motor increases. Also good.

Note that the color impression may vary depending on the region. For this reason, the specific colors mentioned in the above description may be appropriately changed according to the region (color impression in the region).

Here, a more specific example of color switching control by the control unit 2 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of color switching control by the control unit 2 when the home appliance 100 is a vacuum cleaner and the color variable region 10 exhibits a color corresponding to the state of the vacuum cleaner.

When the cleaner is turned on, the controller 2 first detects the current value of the motor (step S1). Next, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the load on the motor is larger than the ideal state based on the detected current value (step S2). When it is determined that the load on the motor is larger than the ideal state, the control unit 2 switches the color of the color variable region 10 to a color with low brightness (step S3). Otherwise, the control unit 2 Switches the color of the color variable region 10 to a color with high brightness (step S4). After completion, the determination may be made by periodically returning to step S2 until the power is turned off.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of color switching control by the control unit 2 when the home appliance 100 is an air conditioner and the color variable region 10 exhibits a color that amplifies the effect of the air conditioner.

When the power of the air conditioner is turned on, the control unit 2 first waits until the temperature-adjusted air comes out (step S11). Thereafter, the control unit 2 determines which operation mode of the remote controller has been operated (step S12). When the operated operation mode is heating, the control unit 2 switches the color of the color variable region 10 to a warm color (step S13). When the operated operation mode is cooling, the control unit 2 switches the color of the color variable region 10 to a cold color (step S14). After the completion, when the operation mode is changed, the determination may be made by returning to step S12. In this case, there is also an effect that a mistake in setting the operation mode can be visually understood.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of color switching control by the control unit 2 when the home appliance 100 is a robot cleaner and the color variable region 10 exhibits a color associated with an emotion. The example shown in FIG. 8 is control which changes the emotional expression of a robot cleaner according to a user going out / returning home.

The control unit 2 switches the color of the color variable area 10 to a color representing loneliness 30 minutes after the microphone senses the user's voice “I'm coming” (step S21). Thereafter, the control unit 2 determines whether or not the microphone senses the user's voice “just now” (step S22). If it is determined that it has been sensed, the control unit 2 switches the color of the color variable region 10 to a color representing pleasure (step S23). If it is determined that the sensor has not sensed and the light sensor senses a rapid increase in illuminance (step S24), the control unit 2 determines whether or not five hours have passed since the previous color change in the color variable region 10. Is determined (step S25). When it is determined that the time has passed, the control unit 2 switches the color of the color variable area 10 to a color representing pleasure (step S23). If it is determined that the color has not passed, the color of the color variable area 10 is not switched, and a state of waiting for a color change is entered.

Table 1 below shows an example of combinations of hue / lightness / saturation / color change of the color variable region 10 and the home appliance 100 associated with the emotion / function / effect change exemplified above.

[Area of color variable area]
As the area of the color variable region 10 is larger, the above-described effect due to color switching can be enhanced. Specifically, the area of the color variable region 10 is preferably 12% or more of the area of the entire outer surface of the housing 1. Further, the area of the color variable region 10 is more preferably 70% or more of the portion of the outer surface of the housing 1 that is visible at that time when the home appliance 100 is viewed from any direction.

[Combination of color and sound effect]
A color can be associated with multiple abstract meanings. On the other hand, so-called sound effects are considered to be able to express states and emotions as well as colors. For this reason, the associated meaning or the like can be uniquely determined by combining an appropriate sound effect with one color in the color variable region 10. This also allows multiple meanings to be associated with colors that usually associate with one abstract meaning.

Table 2 below shows examples of combinations of colors and sound effects. As shown in Table 2, red is associated with, for example, “danger”, “anger”, “hot”, and “joy”. For example, in a robot home appliance such as a robot cleaner, when the color of the color variable region 10 is switched to red, any one of sound effects A, B, C, and D is appropriately combined to express an intended emotion or warning be able to.

　

FIG. 9 shows an example of a configuration in which sound effects can be combined with the colors in the color conversion area 10. The home electric appliance 100 shown in FIG. 9 includes an audio output unit 3 in addition to the housing 1 and the control unit 2 including the color variable region 10. The sound output unit 3 can switch and output a plurality of sound effects according to control by the control unit 2. In the configuration in which the home electric appliance 100 includes such an audio output unit 3, in the state where the color variable region 10 presents one color, the audio output unit 3 includes a plurality of audio output units 3 in the first case. A certain sound effect (first sound effect) of the sound effects is output, and in another case (second case), a sound effect (first sound effect different from the first sound effect among the plurality of sound effects) 2 sound effect).

When the control unit 2 has the configuration illustrated, for example, a table that defines a correspondence relationship in which two or more sound effects correspond to one color may be stored in the storage unit (ROM). .

[Schematic configuration of home appliance control system]
A home appliance control system 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the home appliance control system 400.

As shown in FIG. 10, the home appliance control system 400 includes a home appliance 100, a control unit 2 mounted on the home appliance 100, furniture 200, and a wall material 300. The furniture 200 and the wall material 300 are arranged, for example, in a room where the home appliance 100 is installed.

The home electric appliance 100 includes a housing 1 including at least a part of the color variable region 10 and a control unit 2. The color variable region 10 can present a plurality of colors by switching. The control unit (control circuit) 2 electrically controls the color switching exhibited by the color variable region 10.

In this embodiment, the household electrical appliance 100 further includes a communication unit 4, a power supply unit 5, and a switch unit 6. The communication unit (output interface) 4 transmits an output signal from the control unit 2 to the outside (furniture 200 and wall material 300). The power supply unit 5 supplies power to the control unit 2 and the like. The switch unit 6 is a part that receives user operations.

The furniture 200 includes an input interface (for example, a USB port or a communication port) 201 that receives a signal from the outside (here, an output signal from the control unit 2). Moreover, the furniture 200 includes the color variable region 210 in at least a part (more specifically, at least a part of the outer surface). Similar to the color variable region 10 of the home appliance 100, the color variable region 210 can be presented by switching a plurality of colors. In addition, the switching of the color exhibited by the color variable area 210 is electrically controlled by the control unit 2 of the home appliance 100.

The wall material 300 includes an input interface (for example, a USB port or a communication port) 301 that receives an external signal (here, an output signal from the control unit 2). The wall member 300 includes at least a part of the color variable region 310 (more specifically, at least a part of the outer surface). Similar to the color variable region 10 of the home appliance 100, the color variable region 310 can present a plurality of colors by switching. In addition, the switching of the color exhibited by the color variable region 310 is electrically controlled by the control unit 2 of the home appliance 100.

The communication unit 4 of the household electrical appliance 100 and the input interfaces 201 and 301 of the furniture 200 and the wall material 300 may be connected by wire or may be connected wirelessly. In the case of wired connection, the communication unit 4 and the input interfaces 201 and 301 are connected by a cable, for example. In the case of wireless connection, for example, wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Z-Wave (registered trademark), or infrared communication can be used.

In the home appliance control system 400 of this embodiment, not only the housing 1 of the home appliance 100 has the color variable region 10, but also the furniture 200 and the wall material 300 have color variable regions 210 and 310, respectively. . Therefore, compared with the case where only the color of the color variable region 10 of the housing 1 of the home appliance 100 is switched, the area of the region where the color is switched is increased (that is, the color of the color variable region is likely to be naturally caught by eyes). Therefore, the effect of the color switching described above can be further enhanced.

For example, when the home appliance 100 is an air conditioner, the color of the furniture 200 and the wall material 300 that can be naturally seen can be given a cold and warm feeling, so that the user can feel cool and warm more effectively. be able to.

Further, when the home appliance 100 is a cooking home appliance, the color of the color variable regions 310 and 210 of the wall material 300 of the living room or dining room and the furniture 200 is changed to a color that promotes appetite according to the progress of cooking. be able to. Thereby, the effect that the person other than the person who is cooking can also feel a meal deliciously can be expected.

Note that it is conceivable to realize the same effect by changing the color of the illumination light in conjunction with the home appliance 100. For example, it is possible to change the color of the illumination light by incorporating LEDs of a plurality of colors in the lighting fixture. However, when the color of the illumination light is changed, everything in the room becomes the color. For this reason, the color of the book or clothes seen in the activity time zone changes, and the original color cannot be accurately recognized. On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, except for the influence of reflected light or scattered light, only the colors of the color variable regions 210 and 310 of the furniture 200 and the wall material 300 change. There is no problem.

Note that FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which the color change areas 210 and 310 of the furniture 200 and the wall material 300 are controlled by the control unit 2 mounted on the home appliance 100, but the embodiment of the present disclosure Is not limited to such a configuration. Color change regions 210 and 310 of furniture 200 and wall material 300 may be electrically controlled by a control unit that is communicably connected to home appliance 100.

FIG. 11 illustrates another home appliance control system 400A according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the home appliance control system 400A shown in FIG. 11, the furniture 200 and the wall material 300 have control units 202 and 302, respectively. The control unit 202 of the furniture 200 electrically controls color switching of the color variable area 210 of the furniture 200. The control unit 302 of the wall material 300 electrically controls the color switching of the color variable region 310 of the wall material 300. The control unit 202 of the furniture 200 and the control unit 302 of the wall material 300 are communicably connected to the communication unit 4 of the home appliance 100 via the input interfaces 201 and 301, respectively. The control unit 302 of the material 300 and the control unit 2 of the home appliance 100 can be interlocked. Note that in the case of the home appliance 100 using a remote controller such as an air conditioner, a signal for controlling color switching may be transmitted from the remote controller to the furniture 200 and the wall member 300.

10 and 11 show examples in which the home appliance control systems 400 and 400A include both the furniture 200 and the wall material 300, but the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 12 and 13 show still other home appliance control systems 400B and 400C according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

12 includes the home appliance 100 and the furniture 200, but does not include a wall material. Moreover, although the household appliance control system 400C shown in FIG. 13 contains the household appliances 100 and the wall material 300, it does not contain the furniture.

Also in the home appliance control systems 400B and 400C shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the area of the color switching region is larger than when only the color of the color variable region 10 of the housing 1 of the home appliance 100 is switched. The effect of color switching can be further enhanced.

FIG. 14 shows still another home appliance control system 400D according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 14 differs from the home appliance control system 400 shown in FIG. 10 in that the housing 1 of the home appliance 100 does not have the color variable region 10. Even if the housing 1 of the home appliance 100 does not have the color variable region 10, the effects as described above can be obtained by switching the color of the color variable regions 210 and / or 310 of the furniture 200 and / or the wall material 300. Can be obtained. When the size of the home appliance 100 itself is small, or when the home appliance 100 is placed at a position where it is difficult for the user to see, a configuration like the home appliance control system 400D may be adopted.

As in the present embodiment, when the color variable area 210 is arranged in the furniture 200, the color variable area 210 is preferably arranged in a normally visually recognized area. For example, when the furniture 200 is a desk, the color variable area 210 is preferably arranged in an area other than the back surface (lower surface) and legs of the top board. Further, the color variable area 210 may be arranged in the entire area that is normally visually recognized, or the color variable area 210 may be arranged in a part thereof.

15A and 15B show an arrangement example of the color variable region 210 when the furniture 200 is a desk 200A. In the example shown in FIG. 15A, the color variable region 210 is disposed on the top surface of the desk 200A. In the example shown in FIG. 15B, the color variable region 210 is disposed on the side surface of the top plate of the desk 200A.

FIG. 16 shows an arrangement example of the color variable area 210 when the furniture 200 is a shelf 200B. Also in the case of the shelf 200B, the color variable area 210 may be arranged in the entire area that is normally visually recognized, or the color variable area 210 may be provided in a part of the area that is normally visually recognized as illustrated in FIG. You may arrange. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the color variable region 210 is arranged only in the frame portion on the front surface of the shelf 200 </ b> B in consideration of an object placed on the shelf board.

[Specific configuration of color variable area]
A specific configuration of the color variable regions 10, 210, and 310 will be described. Hereinafter, the color variable region 10 of the housing 1 of the home appliance 100 will be described as an example. The color variable areas 210 and 310 of the furniture 200 and the wall material 300 may have the same configuration as the color variable area 10 of the housing 1 of the home appliance 100.

(Method using light control layer)
FIG. 17 shows an example of a specific configuration of the color variable region 10. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the color variable region 10 includes a light control layer (light control element) 11 and a back layer 12. The color variable region 10 constitutes a part of the housing 1 and is disposed so that the back surface layer 12 overlaps the housing body 1 ′.

The light control layer 11 changes in transmittance or reflectance with respect to incident light according to control by the control unit 2. FIG. 17 shows an example in which the light control layer 11 includes a pair of substrates (a front substrate and a back substrate) 11a and 11b, and an optical layer 11c disposed therebetween. The optical layer 11c is a layer whose optical characteristics change in response to an external stimulus (for example, voltage).

The back layer 12 is disposed on the back side of the light control layer 11. The back layer 12 has a predetermined color. The color of the back layer 12 may be a chromatic color or an achromatic color.

As the light control layer 11, various elements capable of changing the transmittance or reflectance with respect to incident light can be used. The light control layer 11 is, for example, a liquid crystal element, an electrochromic element, or an electrowetting element. As the liquid crystal element, a method using a polarizing plate, a guest host type, a polymer dispersion type, or the like can be used. As the electrochromic element, in addition to a general method, a method of switching the frequency of surface plasmon resonance by nanocrystals by applying a voltage can be used. Furthermore, as the light control layer 11, an element using shape anisotropic particles that reflect and absorb light in a specific wavelength region within the visible region (this element will be described in detail later) may be used.

In the example shown in FIG. 17, the reflection characteristic (determined according to the color of the back layer 12) of the back layer 12 is superimposed on the transmission characteristic / reflection characteristic (varies according to control by the control unit 2) of the light control layer 11. Will be. For example, in the case where the light control layer 11 is a liquid crystal element using a polarizing plate, the light control layer 11 changes its transmittance without changing the hue of incident light. Therefore, the color exhibited by the color variable region 10 is a color having the same hue as the color of the back surface layer 12, and the brightness thereof is switched by the light control layer 11. When an element that changes the transmission spectrum, such as an electrochromic element, is used as the light control layer 11, the superposition spectrum of the transmission spectrum of the light control layer 11 and the reflection spectrum of the back layer 12 is switched. .

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the principle of switching colors when the light control layer 11 that absorbs light in a specific wavelength range is used. In the example illustrated in FIG. 18, the light control layer 11 switches between a state of absorbing red light R and a transparent state (a state of transmitting red light R, green light G, and blue light B). Further, the color of the back layer 12 is yellow.

As shown on the left side of FIG. 18, when the light control layer 11 absorbs the red light R, the blue light B is the back layer 12 among the green light G and the blue light B transmitted through the light control layer 11. Since it is absorbed, only the green light G is reflected to the front side, and the color variable region 10 exhibits green. As shown on the right side of FIG. 18, when the light control layer 11 is in a transparent state, among the red light R, the green light G, and the blue light B transmitted through the light control layer 11, the blue light B is the back layer. 12, the red light R and the green light G are reflected to the front side, and the color variable region 10 exhibits yellow. Therefore, the color variable region 10 is presented by switching between green and yellow.

Of course, the color switching is not limited to the example shown in FIG. For example, when the dimming layer 11 that switches between the blue light B absorbing state and the transparent state and the cyan back layer 12 are used in combination, the color variable region 10 switches between green and cyan. Present.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the principle of color switching in the case where the light control layer 11 that reflects light in a specific wavelength range is used. In the example illustrated in FIG. 19, the light control layer 11 switches between a state of reflecting the blue light B and a transparent state. Further, the color of the back layer 12 is yellow.

As shown on the left side of FIG. 19, when the light control layer 11 reflects the blue light B, the blue light B is reflected to the front side, and the color variable region 10 exhibits blue. Further, as shown on the right side of FIG. 19, when the light control layer 11 is in a transparent state, the blue light B out of the red light R, the green light G, and the blue light B transmitted through the light control layer 11 is the back layer. 12, the red light R and the green light G are reflected to the front side, and the color variable region 10 exhibits yellow. Therefore, the color variable area 10 is switched between blue and yellow.

Of course, the color switching is not limited to the example shown in FIG. For example, when the light control layer 11 that switches between the state of reflecting the green light G and the transparent state and the back layer 12 of magenta are used in combination, the color variable region 10 switches between green and magenta. Present.

Here, an example of a preferable configuration when the color variable region 10 including the light control layer 11 is installed in the housing 1 of the home appliance 100 will be described. The configuration described below can also be applied when the color variable regions 210 and 310 are provided in the furniture 200 and the wall material 300.

FIG. 20 shows an installation example of the color variable region 10. In the example shown in FIG. 20, the housing body 1 ′ of the home appliance 100 also serves as the back surface layer 12, and the light control layer 11 is disposed on the housing body 1 ′. As in this example, the housing main body 1 ′ (the furniture main body in the case of the furniture 200 and the wall main body in the case of the wall material 300) may be used as the back surface layer 12.

However, in the example shown in FIG. 20, an air layer is formed between the back substrate (back substrate) 11 b and the back layer 12. Therefore, interface reflection occurs at the interface between the back substrate 11b and the air layer or at the interface between the back layer 12 and the air layer. This interface reflection causes a color change in the color variable region 10 to be small (that is, difficult to be recognized). Therefore, the color variable region 10 preferably does not have an air layer between the back layer 12 and the light control layer 11.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a configuration in which the color variable region 10 does not have an air layer between the back layer 12 and the light control layer 11. In the example shown in FIG. 21, a resin layer 13 is provided between the back layer 12 and the light control layer 11. That is, the air layer is replaced with the resin layer 13. Therefore, interface reflection due to the air layer does not occur. The resin layer 13 is formed of, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin material or a thermosetting resin material. Note that the layer replaced with the air layer is not limited to the resin layer 13. The space between the back layer 12 and the light control layer 11 may be filled with glue, a non-volatile liquid, or the like. The refractive index of the layer provided between the back layer 12 and the light control layer 11 is substantially equal to the refractive index of the back substrate 11b or the back layer 12 or the refractive index of the back substrate 11b and the back layer 12. When the value is between these refractive indexes, the effect of reducing interface reflection is high.

Alternatively, the back layer 12 may be formed by directly forming a colored layer, a scattering layer, or the like on the surface on the back side of the back substrate 11b by a coating method or a printing method. Further, as in the example shown in FIG. 22, the back substrate 11 b may also serve as the back layer 12. If the back substrate 11b is colored or has a scattering property, the back substrate 11b can function as the back layer 12.

When a highly rigid substrate such as a glass substrate is used as the back substrate 11b and the front substrate 11a of the light control layer 11, and the housing body 1 'is used as the back layer 12, the back substrate 11b and the back layer 12 (chassis) are used. In some cases, it may be difficult to attach the air bubbles to the body body 1 ′) so that air bubbles do not enter, and in that case, a vacuum apparatus may be required. In order to simplify the manufacturing process, as shown in FIG. 23, a flexible (flexible) back layer 12 is prepared, and this back layer 12 is connected to the back substrate 11b via a resin layer 13 or the like. You may paste. Since the flexible back surface layer 12 can be affixed while being slightly warped, it can be affixed without requiring any special equipment so that bubbles do not enter the back substrate 11b.

As the back substrate 11b and the front substrate 11a of the light control layer 11, a member having flexibility (flexibility) such as a plastic film can be used. As a material for the plastic film, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), polyimide, or the like can be used. Moreover, you may provide the gas barrier layer formed from the inorganic material or the organic material on the surface of the plastic film.

If the substrate of the light control layer 11 is flexible, the resin layer 13 or the like can be formed while slightly bending the substrate of the light control layer 11 even when the housing body 1 ′ of the home appliance 100 is used as the back layer 12. It can be affixed to the back surface layer 12 (housing body 1 ′) so that no air bubbles enter. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 24 (only the back substrate 11b of the light control layer 11 is shown in FIG. 24), even if the housing body 1 ′ of the home appliance 100 is curved in the uniaxial direction, Can be pasted without cracks or gaps.

Further, as the light control layer 11, an all-solid-type electrochromic element (for example, one using tungsten oxide) may be formed on the casing body 1 'of the home appliance 100 by sputtering or the like. In this case, the light control layer 11 can be formed so as not to be wrinkled even if the housing body 1 ′ has a complicated three-dimensional shape.

Next, the light control layer (light control element) 11 using shape anisotropic particles will be described. As such a light control layer 11, for example, a light control element called SPD (Suspended Particle Device) can be used. In SPD, by switching the orientation of the acicular crystal that absorbs visible light in a specific wavelength range between a random state and a state parallel to an applied electric field, the state in which external light is not absorbed is switched. In addition, flake-shaped particles (hereinafter simply referred to as “flakes”) are used as shape anisotropic particles, and the orientation of flakes is switched between a state parallel to the substrate surface and a state perpendicular to the substrate surface by voltage application. A method may be used. FIG. 25 shows an example of the color conversion region 10 including the light control layer 11 of this method.

In the example shown in FIG. 25, the optical layer 11c includes a liquid medium 14 and a plurality of flakes 15 dispersed in the medium 14. Electrodes 16 and 17 are provided on the optical layer 11c side of the front substrate 11a and the optical layer 11c side of the back substrate 11b, respectively.

As the flakes 15, for example, flakes obtained by pulverizing a material that reflects light in a specific wavelength range, such as polymer cholesteric liquid crystal, can be used. A flake with a high refractive index layer such as a titanium oxide layer formed on the surface of the glass flake so that the wavelength of interference light depending on the thickness of the glass flake and the thickness of the high refractive index layer is in the visible region. May be used. Further, flakes obtained by pulverizing or cutting a resin film colored with a pigment or dye may be used. Furthermore, nano flakes such as silver having surface plasmon resonance absorption in the visible region, and flakes obtained by coating aluminum flakes with pigments can also be used.

Here, as the flake 15, a case where a flake having a diameter of about 20 μm prepared by forming a red pigment layer on the surface of the aluminum flake and further forming a resin layer so as to cover it is used as an example. A simple configuration will be described.

As the front substrate 11a and the back substrate 11b, glass substrates can be used. A transparent conductive film such as an ITO (Tin doped indium oxide) film is formed as the electrodes 16 and 17 on the respective surfaces of the front substrate 11a and the back substrate 11b.

A columnar spacer is preferably provided between the front substrate 11a and the back substrate 11b. The thickness (cell gap) of the optical layer 11c can be suitably defined by the spacer. The spacer can be formed using, for example, a photosensitive resin material. When the thickness of the optical layer 11c is 50 μm, for example, a spacer having a square shape with a cross section of 50 μm square and a height of 50 μm is formed.

The medium 14 only needs to have a higher relative dielectric constant than the resin layer of the flakes 15. The relative dielectric constant of the medium 14 is preferably 20 or more. For example, propylene carbonate is used as the medium 14, and the medium 14 in which, for example, 3 wt% of the flakes 15 is dispersed is dropped onto one of the front substrate 11a and the back substrate 11b. For example, an ultraviolet curable resin material is applied as a sealing material to the substrate onto which the medium 14 is dropped. The light control layer (light control cell) 11 can be obtained by curing the sealing material after bonding the front substrate 11a and the back substrate 11b. As the sealing material, it is preferable to form a solvent-resistant sealing material on the inner side in contact with the medium 14 and to form a sealing material having a strong adhesive force on the outer side. Further, thixotropy may be imparted to the medium 14 by a technique such as dispersing silica fine particles. When thixotropy is imparted to the medium 14, it is possible to suppress sedimentation of the flakes 15 in the cell thickness direction and sedimentation in a direction parallel to the substrate surface when the cells are placed vertically. In addition, power consumption can be reduced by providing memory characteristics to the operating state and reducing the frequency of voltage application.

As shown in FIG. 26 (a), when a DC voltage (for example, a DC voltage of 2V) is applied between a pair of electrodes 16 and 17 facing each other through the optical layer 11c, the charged flake 15 is electrophoresed on one side. It gathers in the vicinity of the electrode (here, the front electrode 16). Therefore, a state is obtained in which the observer can see the color of the flake 15 (here, red). At this time, a so-called burn-in may be prevented by applying a low-frequency AC voltage (for example, an AC voltage of 1 Hz or less).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 26B, when a high-frequency AC voltage (for example, 60 Hz, 2 V AC voltage) is applied between the pair of electrodes 16 and 17, a dielectrophoresis phenomenon, a Coulomb force, or an electrical energy viewpoint. The flakes 15 are oriented in a direction perpendicular to the substrate surface by the force described from FIG. Therefore, a state where the viewer can see the color of the back layer 12 is obtained.

27 (a) and 27 (b) show the results of enlarging observation by applying a voltage to the optical layer 11c of the light control cell actually manufactured as a prototype. FIG. 27A is a microscopic image when the applied voltage is a DC voltage of 2V. FIG. 27B is a microscopic image when the applied voltage is 60 Hz and an AC voltage of 2V. In the prototype light control cell, the red pigment layer is not formed on the flake 15.

FIG. 27A shows that the flakes 15 are oriented substantially parallel to the substrate surface when a DC voltage is applied. Therefore, the light incident on the dimming cell is reflected by the flake 15. When the flake 15 that reflects red light is used, the dimming cell (that is, the color variable region 10) exhibits red.

Also, from FIG. 27B, it can be seen that the flakes 15 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface when a high-frequency AC voltage is applied. Therefore, the light incident on the dimming cell is transmitted through the optical layer 11c. When the back layer 12 colored yellow is used, the dimming cell (that is, the color variable region 10) exhibits yellow.

In addition, although the combination of the flake 15 that reflects red light and the yellow back layer 12 is illustrated here, the combination of colors is not limited to this and may be various combinations. From the viewpoint of ease of recognition, it is preferable that the reflected color of the flakes 15 and the color of the back layer 12 are different. However, even if the reflection color of the flakes 15 and the color of the back layer 12 are similar colors, the reflection color of the flakes 15 is a glossy color with a strong regular reflection component, and thus the back layer that realizes reflection close to perfect diffusion. 12 can be switched depending on the presence or absence of glossiness.

(Method using planar light-emitting layer)
FIGS. 28A and 28B show another example of a specific configuration of the color variable region 10. The color variable region 10 shown in FIG. 28 includes a planar light emitting layer 18 that emits light in a planar shape. 28A and 28B are a side view and a top view, respectively, showing the color variable region 10 including the planar light emitting layer 18.

The planar light emitting layer 18 switches and emits a plurality of color lights according to control by the control unit 2. In the example shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B, the planar light emitting layer 18 has a configuration similar to a backlight for a liquid crystal display device, and includes a plurality of light sources 18a, a light guide plate 18b, It has a diffusion sheet 18c and a reflection sheet 18d.

The plurality of light sources 18a include two or more (three types here) light sources 18a1, 18a2, and 18a3 that emit different colors. The light sources 18a1, 18a2, and 18a3 are, for example, a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED.

The light guide plate 18b receives the light emitted from the plurality of light sources 18a and guides it to the front side (emits it from the front side). The light diffusion sheet 18c is disposed on the front side of the light guide plate 18b and diffuses the light emitted from the light guide plate 18b. The reflection sheet 18d reflects the light emitted from the back surface of the light guide plate 18b and makes it incident on the light guide plate 18b again.

In the planar light emitting layer 18 shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B, the colors can be switched by controlling the lighting states of the light sources 18a1, 18a2 and 18a3 emitting different colors. Note that a backlight for a liquid crystal display device is provided with a prism sheet or the like for improving the display performance by controlling the directivity (orientation distribution) of light, but the planar light emitting layer 18 emits light in a planar shape. Since it is only necessary to emit the light, such a prism sheet or the like is unnecessary, and the light diffusion sheet 18b may be omitted.

Further, a back layer may be disposed on the back side of the planar light emitting layer 18 as shown in FIGS. 28 (a) and 28 (b). In the configuration using the back layer, the color of the back layer is visually recognized when the light source 18a is not turned on. In order to prevent the color of the back layer from becoming unclear, the reflective sheet 18d may be omitted.

Note that the example shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B has a configuration similar to a so-called edge-light type backlight, but has a configuration similar to a direct-type backlight (a plurality of light sources are planar or matrix-shaped). May be adopted.

Alternatively, a transparent member may be used as the housing body 1 'of the home appliance 100, and the housing body 1' may be used as the light guide plate 18b as shown in FIG. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 29, the light diffusion sheet 18c and the reflection sheet 18d are omitted. Such a configuration can be suitably used when the shape of the housing 1 is complicated and it is difficult to dispose the light diffusion sheet 18c and the reflection sheet 18d without wrinkles. Instead of the reflection sheet 18d, a metal material such as aluminum may be vapor-deposited or a white paint may be applied to the back surface of the light guide plate 18b (housing body 1 '). As shown in FIG. 29, a back layer 18e of a predetermined color may be formed on the back surface of the light guide plate 18b (housing body 1 ') by a coating method. Furthermore, a scattering dot pattern designed to increase the uniformity of light emission in the surface may be formed on the light guide plate 18b.

In addition, the planar light emitting layer 18 is not limited to what was illustrated by said description. For example, a sheet-like organic EL element may be used as the planar light emitting layer 18.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, a home electric appliance and a home electric appliance control system having unprecedented added value are provided.

Embodiment of this indication is used suitably for various household appliances, such as an air-conditioner (air conditioner), an air cleaner, a vacuum cleaner, an electric washing machine, and cooking household appliances (for example, an electric rice cooker and an automatic cooking pot) a. .

This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-8430 filed with the Japan Patent Office on January 20, 2017. See the entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-8430. Is incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 1 'Housing main body 2 Control part 3 Audio | voice output part 4 Communication part 5 Power supply part 6 Switch part 10 Color variable area 11 Dimming layer 11a Front substrate 11b Rear substrate 11c Optical layer 12 Back layer 13 Resin layer 14 Medium 15 Flakes ( Shape anisotropic particles)
16, 17 Electrode 18 Planar light emitting layer 18a, 18a1, 18a2, 18a3 Light source 18b Light guide plate 18c Light diffusion sheet 18d Reflective sheet 18e Back layer 100 Home appliance 100A Air conditioner 100B Robot cleaner 200 Furniture 200A Desk 200B Shelf 201 Input interface 202 Control Unit 210 Color variable region 300 Wall material 301 Input interface 302 Control unit 310 Color variable region 400, 400A, 400B, 400C, 400D Home appliance control system

Claims (16)

1. A housing that includes at least a part of a color variable region that can be displayed by switching a plurality of colors;
   And a control unit that electrically controls switching of the color exhibited by the color variable region.
2. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of colors include two or more colors associated with the state of the home appliance.
3. The home electric appliance according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs control so that the color variable region exhibits a color corresponding to a current state of the home electric appliance among the two or more colors.
4. 2. The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of colors include two or more colors associated with emotions.
5. The control unit performs control as if the home appliance represents an emotion by switching the color of the color variable region between the two or more colors associated with the emotion. Appliances described in 1.
6. 2. The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of colors include colors that amplify an effect due to an original function of the household electrical appliance.
7. The home electric appliance according to claim 6, wherein the control unit performs control so that the color variable region exhibits the color that amplifies the effect when the home electric appliance performs an original function.
8. The household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an audio output unit capable of switching and outputting a plurality of sound effects according to control by the control unit.
9. In a state where the color variable region exhibits one color of the plurality of colors, in the first case, the sound output unit outputs a first sound effect of the plurality of sound effects. The household electrical appliance of Claim 8 which outputs and outputs the 2nd sound effect different from the said 1st sound effect among these several sound effects in the 2nd case different from the said 1st case.
10. The household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the color variable region includes a light control layer whose transmittance or reflectance with respect to incident light changes according to control by the control unit.
11. The household electrical appliance according to claim 10, wherein the color variable region is a back layer disposed on a back side of the light control layer, and further includes a back layer of a predetermined color.
12. The household electrical appliance according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the color variable region does not have an air layer between the light control layer and the back layer.
13. The said color variable area | region is a planar light emitting layer which emits light planarly, Comprising: The planar light emitting layer which switches and emits several color light according to control by the said control part is included in any one of Claim 1 to 8 The home appliance described.
14. The household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein an area of the color variable region is 12% or more of an area of the entire outer surface of the casing.
15. Household appliances having a housing;
    A control unit that is mounted on the household electrical appliance or connected to the household electrical appliance so as to be communicable,
    Furniture and / or wall materials including an input interface for receiving external signals;
    A home appliance control system comprising:
    The furniture and / or the wall material includes, at least in part, a color variable region that can be switched between a plurality of colors,
    The said control part is a household appliance control system which controls electrically the switching of the color which the said color variable area | region exhibits.
16. 16. The home appliance control system according to claim 15, wherein the housing of the home appliance also includes the color variable region at least in part.

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