WO2018171350A1

WO2018171350A1 - Method of indicating operating state of laundry machine and laundry machine system

Info

Publication number: WO2018171350A1
Application number: PCT/CN2018/075351
Authority: WO
Inventors: 许升; 黄振兴; 李文伟; 吴军
Original assignee: 青岛海尔滚筒洗衣机有限公司
Priority date: 2017-03-23
Filing date: 2018-02-06
Publication date: 2018-09-27
Also published as: CN108625113A; CN108625113B

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of indicating an operating state of a laundry machine. The laundry machine is networked with an intelligent terminal that can be authorized/disabled to perform remote control on the laundry machine, and the laundry machine is provided with a state indicator device. The indication method comprises: controlling an indication state of the state indicator device according to a networking state and authorization state of the laundry machine. Different indication states are set for an Internet-of-things laundry machine according to a networking state and authorization state thereof, so as to enable a user to ascertain the state of the laundry machine. By using the method of indicating an operating state of an Internet-of-things laundry machine of the present invention, a display screen for displaying state information of a laundry machine is not required for a laundry machine, thereby enabling a simpler and more practical structure of a laundry machine and thus saving cost and being suitable for general consumer use and widely applicable in the technical field of Internet-of-things laundry machines.

Description

Washing machine working state indicating method and washing machine system

Technical field

The invention relates to the field of washing machines, in particular to a working state indication method of a washing machine and a washing machine system.

Background technique

The development of the Internet of Things has led more and more traditional home appliance manufacturers and equipment manufacturers to join the research and development of Internet of Things products. However, it is a technical difficulty for most home appliance manufacturers and equipment manufacturers to make their devices successfully connected to the Internet and become stable and standard IoT products. To successfully access the Internet, first add a network transmission module to its device and redevelop it. However, traditional home appliance manufacturers and equipment manufacturers have no experience in network knowledge and network development at present. Therefore, the difficulty in research and development of home appliance manufacturers and equipment manufacturers has been greatly increased.

On the other hand, IoT products have multiple working states (such as networking status). When the IoT products switch between different working states, their working status is difficult to distinguish, which is not conducive to the next step of the IoT products. At the same time, the user does not know that the IoT product's working status information will be anxious and insecure. Also, when the IoT product is controlled by an external intelligent terminal, if there is no relevant prompt on the IoT product, the use may be confusing, and there may even be a safety hazard, especially in the IoT washing machine.

The IoT washing machine is different from other products. The existing IoT product working status indication method is not applicable to the Internet of Things washing machine. In the remote control, the washing machine needs high security. At this stage, the domestic market is not mature. Related patents on the working status indication method of the Internet of Things washing machine.

The present invention has been made in view of the above.

Summary of the invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, and provide a method for indicating the working state of a washing machine, which determines the indication state of the state indicating device according to the networking state and the authorization state of the washing machine, thereby facilitating the user's knowledge of the state of the washing machine. By adopting the working state indication method of the Internet of Things washing machine of the present invention, the washing machine may not set a display screen for displaying the state information of the washing machine, thereby making the structure of the washing machine simpler and more practical, saving cost, and being suitable for mass consumers, and the method can be widely applied. In the field of IoT washing machine technology.

In order to solve the above technical problems, the basic idea of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

A washing machine working state indicating method, wherein the washing machine network is connected with an intelligent terminal, and the smart terminal can be authorized/disabled to remotely control the washing machine, wherein the washing machine is provided with a state indicating device, and the indicating method The method includes: controlling an indication state of the state indication device according to a networking state and an authorization state of the washing machine.

Preferably, the washing machine wirelessly connects to the router through a WiFi module, the router communicates with the cloud server, the cloud server wirelessly connects to the smart terminal, the washing machine further includes a controller, and the controller detects the washing machine and the router. And a communication connection state of the cloud server and an authorization state of the washing machine, and controlling the indication state of the state indication device according to the detected state information.

Preferably, the controller detects an installation state of the WiFi module, a connection state of the WiFi module and the router, a connection state of the router and the server, an authorization state of the washing machine, and controls the status indication according to the detected different state information. The device takes different indication states.

Preferably, the status indication device includes an indicator light, and the controller implements an indication of the networking status and authorization status information of the washing machine by displaying different states by the control indicator;

Preferably, the controller detects that the washing machine is not inserted into the WiFi module or the washing machine is inserted into the WiFi module but fails to connect to the network or the washing machine is inserted into the WiFi module but the router is not successfully connected to the router;

The controller detects that the WiFi module of the washing machine is successfully connected to the router, but when not connected to the server, the control indicator is in a slow flashing state;

When the controller detects that the WiFi module is inserted into the washing machine and successfully connects the router and the server but does not authorize the smart terminal to perform remote control, the control indicator is always on;

When the controller detects the communication connection between the washing machine and the intelligent terminal, and successfully authorizes the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine, the control indicator is in a fast blinking state.

Preferably, the indication state of the state indicating device is determined by the blinking state of the indicator light and the display color of the indicator light.

Preferably, the smart terminal and the washing machine establish a first channel for the smart terminal to receive the washing machine state information and a second channel for the washing machine to receive the smart terminal sending the control instruction, when the washing machine and the smart terminal are successfully networked respectively, the first channel In the connected state, the indication state of the state indicating device corresponds to a state, and when the second channel is in the connected state, the indication state of the state indicating device corresponds to another state;

Preferably, the smart terminal comprises a plurality of computers connected to the washing machine network through the first channel, and when the second channel between any smart terminal and the washing machine is connected, the washing machine controls the second between the other smart terminals and the washing machine. The channels are all off.

Preferably, the washing machine includes an activation device, and the activation device is provided with an indicator light to trigger the activation device, and the washing machine authorizes the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine, and the indicator light is displayed as corresponding status.

Preferably, the activation device includes an NFC card reader, and the smart terminal is provided with an NFC tag. After the NFC tag is in the reading range of the NFC card reader, the NFC card reader is in a trigger state. The washing machine authorizes the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine, and the indicator light is displayed in a corresponding state.

The present invention also provides a washing machine system using the above-described washing machine working state indicating method.

The washing machine system described therein includes: a controller, a cloud server, a smart terminal, and a status indicating device.

The controller is connected to the cloud server network, and is configured to collect the networking status and authorization status information of the washing machine and send the working status information of the washing machine to the cloud server;

The cloud server is respectively connected to the controller and the intelligent terminal network, and is configured to receive the working status information of the washing machine transmitted by the controller, send the information to the intelligent terminal, and receive the control command transmitted by the intelligent terminal, and send the control command to the controller. ;

The smart terminal is connected to the cloud server network, and is configured to display status information of the washing machine in real time and to receive a user input control command;

The status indicating device is connected to the controller, the status indicating device determines the indication status according to the washing machine networking state and the authorization status information collected by the controller, or the controller controls the status indicating device according to the washing machine networking status and the authorization status information. Indicated status.

The invention provides different indication states according to different networking states and authorization states of the Internet of Things washing machine, thereby facilitating the user's knowledge of the state of the washing machine. By adopting the working state indication method of the Internet of Things washing machine of the present invention, the washing machine may not be provided for displaying the washing machine. The display screen of status information makes the structure of the washing machine simpler and more practical, saves cost, is suitable for mass consumers, and can be widely applied in the field of IoT washing machine technology.

The specific embodiments of the present invention are described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS

The drawings are intended to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are intended to be illustrative of the invention. It is apparent that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments, and other drawings may be obtained from those skilled in the art without departing from the drawings. In the drawing:

1 is a schematic view of a washing machine system of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the drawings and the written description are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

detailed description

The embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be noted that the orientation or positional relationship of the terms "upper", "lower", "inside", "outside", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, only for the purpose of The invention is not limited by the scope of the invention, and is not intended to be a limitation of the invention.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "mounting" and "connecting" are to be understood broadly, and may be, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral, unless otherwise explicitly stated and defined. Ground connection; it can be mechanical connection or electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in a specific case by those skilled in the art.

The invention provides a working state indication method for a washing machine. The washing machine network is connected with an intelligent terminal, and can authorize/disable the intelligent terminal to remotely control the washing machine. The washing machine is provided with a state indicating device, and the indication method comprises : controlling the indication state of the state indicating device according to the networking state and the authorization state of the washing machine.

Preferably, the washing machine wirelessly connects to the router through a WiFi module, and the router communicates with the cloud server, and the cloud server is connected to the smart terminal by using a wireless signal, and the networking state includes the following states:

State A: The washing machine is not plugged into the WiFi module and cannot be networked;

State B: The washing machine has a WiFi module but has not successfully connected to the router;

State C: The WiFi module of the washing machine successfully connected to the router but was not connected to the server;

State D: The WiFi module is plugged into the washing machine and the router and server are successfully connected.

Preferably, the authorization status includes:

State E: The washing machine authorizes the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine successfully.

Preferably, the indication state includes at least one of the following states:

Status a: The indicator is always off;

State c: The indicator flashes slowly;

Status d: The indicator light is always on;

Status e: The indicator light flashes quickly.

Of course, the indication state can be changed at will, or can be freely set by the user. The indication state is not limited to the above state a, state c, state d, and state e. Other indication states can also be included.

Preferably, when the washing machine is changed from state B or state C or state D or state E to state A, then the state is indicated to be converted to state a;

When the washing machine is changed from state A or state C or state D or state E to state B, then indicating that the state correspondingly transitions to state a;

When the washing machine is changed from state A or state B or state D or state E to state C, then indicating that the state correspondingly transitions to state c;

When the washing machine is changed from state A or state B or state C or state E to state D, then the state is indicated to be converted to state d;

When the washing machine is changed from state A or state B or state C or state D to state E, it indicates that the state correspondingly transitions to state e.

Preferably, the washing machine described in the present invention includes an activation device that controls the authorization/disablement of the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine through the activation device. Preferably, the activation device is provided with an indicator light, and the activation device is triggered, and the washing machine authorizes the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine, and the indication state of the indicator light corresponds to the state e. The user can know whether the washing machine is operating under the control of the intelligent terminal through the status of the indicator light. Preferably, the indication state of the indicator light further includes a color of illumination.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the method for indicating the working status of the washing machine includes determining the decision by the display state of the indicator light and the display color, and in consideration of the conventional understanding of the state of the color representation, in the embodiment, The indicator light can be red, yellow and green, and the state of the washing machine and its corresponding display state are one-to-one correspondence as follows:

State A is represented by state h, which is: the indicator light is green, and the indicator light flashes slowly, indicating that the washing machine is not plugged into the WiFi module or the WiFi module is faulty or has not been configured with a router or router to change the password, and cannot be networked;

State B: indicated by the state i, the state i is: the indicator light is displayed in green, and the indicator light flashes rapidly, indicating that the washing machine is successfully inserted into the WiFi module;

State C: indicated by state j, the state j is: the indicator light is yellow, and the indicator light flashes slowly. The WiFi module representing the washing machine is successfully connected to the router, but is not connected to the server. At this time, the router may not be connected to the external network or The router setting device is forbidden to connect to the external network;

State D: indicated by state k, the state k is: the indicator light is red, the indicator light flashes slowly, indicating that the WiFi module is plugged into the washing machine, the router and the server are successfully connected, and the communication with the server is normal, but the intelligent terminal is not authorized to control. The washing machine;

State E: indicated by state l, the state l is: the indicator light is red, and the indicator light flashes rapidly, indicating that the washing machine authorizes the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine successfully, and the smart terminal is remotely controlling the washing machine.

In this implementation, the indication state of the state indicating device combines the lighting color and the blinking state of the indicator light, so that the user can understand the networking state and the authorization state of the washing machine more quickly and intuitively, which is convenient for the user and the user experience is good. Of course, the various states defined in this embodiment are not unique by different colors and blinking states, may be formed by other combinations, or may be set by the user according to their own habits.

Of course, the indication state of the state indicating device may be determined only by the color of the indicator light, the washing machine includes a controller, and the controller determines the networking state and the authorization state of the washing machine, and according to the networking state of the washing machine. And the authorization status control indicator emits the corresponding color.

Preferably, the activation device includes an NFC card reader, and the smart terminal is provided with an NFC tag. After the NFC tag is in the reading range of the NFC card reader, the NFC card reader is in a trigger state. The washing machine authorizes the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine. At this time, the indication state of the indicator light corresponds to the state e.

Preferably, the smart terminal and the washing machine establish a first channel for the smart terminal to receive the washing machine state information and a second channel for the washing machine to receive the smart terminal sending the control instruction, when the washing machine and the smart terminal are successfully networked respectively, the first channel In the connected state, the indication state of the state indicating device corresponds to the state d, when the activation device is in the trigger state, the second channel is in the connected state, the indication state of the state indicating device corresponds to the state e, and the activation device is in the frozen state. The second channel is in the off state indicating that the indication state of the device corresponds to the state d;

Preferably, the smart terminal includes a plurality of devices connected to the washing machine network through the first channel, and the indication state of the state indicating device corresponds to the state d. When the second channel between any smart terminal and the washing machine is connected, Then, the washing machine controls the second channel between the other intelligent terminal and the washing machine to be in a closed state, and the indication state of the state indicating device corresponds to the state e.

On the other hand, the authorization status described in the present invention further includes a state F: the washing machine is plugged into the WiFi module, and the washing machine is successfully connected to the router and the server is also connected to the smart terminal through the server to open the first channel. The smart terminal can implement the working state of the washing machine, but the second channel between the washing machine and the smart terminal is in a closed state, and the indicator light of the washing machine can correspond to an indication state.

In this embodiment, the washing machine is a drum washing machine, and the intelligent terminal remotely controlling the washing machine comprises the following steps:

S1, the smart terminal remotely applies to control the washing machine, and the indicator light can display the status X at this time, indicating that the smart terminal is applying to remotely control the washing machine;

S2, detecting the state of the door switch of the washing machine, determining whether the door body is open, and if the determination result is yes, prohibiting the intelligent terminal from controlling the washing machine, the indicator light displays the state d, and if the determination result is no, the washing machine authorizes the smart terminal Remotely controlling the washing machine, at this time, the indicator light shows the status e, indicating that the washing machine authorizes the intelligent terminal to remotely control the washing machine successfully, and the intelligent terminal is in remote control;

S3. The washing process ends, and the washing machine prohibits the smart terminal from continuing to remotely control the washing machine.

In this embodiment, in step S2, the door switch state of the washing machine can be detected by the user himself, or the door body switch mechanism can be disposed on the washing machine, and the washing machine can automatically open and close the door body switch structure. When the door body switch of the washing machine is checked by the user himself, when the door body is found to be in the open state, the door body can be closed by itself, and then the activation device is triggered to authorize the intelligent terminal to control the washing machine, and when the user checks that the door body is in the closed state, it also triggers. The device is activated to authorize the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine. On the other hand, the door body switch detecting mechanism can be set on the washing machine to determine whether the door body is in the closed state, and the activation device can be automatically activated when the door body is detected to be in the closed state, so that the smart terminal can automatically obtain the authorization of the washing machine. , thereby improving the automation level of the washing machine.

The present invention also provides a washing machine system using the washing machine working state indicating method in each of the above embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 , specifically, the washing machine system includes a controller, a cloud server, a smart terminal, and a status indicating device disposed in the washing machine;

Preferably, the washing machine system further includes an activation button disposed on the washing machine, the washing machine includes a controller, the activation button is wired or wirelessly connected with the controller, and the activation button includes a communication for communicating with the controller. The connected communication module and the detecting module for detecting whether the button is triggered, the detecting module detects that the activation button is triggered, and sends a signal to the controller through the communication module, and the controller receives the signal and authorizes the smart terminal to remotely drive the washing machine. control.

Further, an indicator light is disposed in the button of the activation button. After the activation button is triggered, the indicator light displays the corresponding indication state following the networking state and authorization status of the washing machine.

Preferably, the washing machine further comprises an operation panel disposed on the washing machine casing, wherein the operation panel is provided with an accommodating chamber, and the activation button is freely detachable and disposed in the accommodating chamber.

Preferably, the accommodating chamber includes a button slot and a connecting portion disposed on a circumference of the accommodating chamber, and the activation button is fixedly connected to the connecting portion;

Alternatively, the activation button is magnetically attracted and fixed in the receiving groove.

Preferably, the connecting portion is provided with at least one card hole, and the activation button is provided with a claw matched with the card hole, and the claw is engaged in the card hole, and the card hole restricts the activation button from the button slot.

Preferably, the activation button is further provided with a power supply module, and the power supply module provides power required for the communication module to transmit signals, and the power supply module includes an energy conversion module and/or a built-in power supply;

The energy conversion device converts kinetic energy generated by pressing the activation button process into electrical energy and supplies the electrical energy to the communication module.

Preferably, the receiving chamber/button slot is provided with a power supply electrode, the activation button is correspondingly provided with a charging electrode, the activation button is placed in the button slot, the power supply electrode is in contact with the charging electrode, and the washing machine is an activation button. Charging.

The state indicating device can be set on the washing machine, and can also be arranged with the washing machine, such as setting it in the living room, which is beneficial to the user's observation of the state of the washing machine.

Preferably, the washing machine system may further include an activation device that is removably disposed on the washing machine. Further, the status indicating device may be integrally provided with the activation device. Because the indication state of the state indicating device changes during the activation or freezing of the activation device, the combination of the two is more reasonable, and the user is convenient to operate the activation button and the indication state observation operation by the state indication device. the result of.

It should be noted that the technical solutions defined by the above embodiments of the present invention may be implemented separately or in combination with each other. The technical solution defined by the above embodiments of the present invention can be applied to a drum washing machine, and can also be applied to a pulsator washing machine.

The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any technology that is familiar with the present patent. Those skilled in the art can make some modifications or modifications to equivalent embodiments by using the technical content of the above-mentioned hints, without departing from the technical solution of the present invention, according to the present invention. Technical simplifications Any simple modifications, equivalent variations and modifications of the above embodiments are still within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A washing machine working state indicating method, wherein the washing machine network is connected with an intelligent terminal, and the smart terminal can be authorized/disabled to remotely control the washing machine, wherein the washing machine is provided with a state indicating device, and the indicating method The method includes: controlling an indication state of the state indication device according to a networking state and an authorization state of the washing machine.
The washing machine working state indicating method according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine wirelessly connects to the router through the WiFi module, the router communicates with the cloud server, and the cloud server wirelessly connects to the smart terminal, The washing machine further includes a controller, the controller detects a communication connection state of the washing machine with the router and the cloud server, and an authorization status of the washing machine, and controls an indication state of the status indication device according to the detected status information.
The operating state indication method of a washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller detects an installation state of the WiFi module, a connection state of the WiFi module and the router, a connection state of the router and the server, and a washing machine. Authorization status, and according to the detected different status information, the status indication device is controlled to adopt different indication states.
The method for indicating the working status of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the status indicating device comprises an indicator light, and the controller realizes the networking status and authorization of the washing machine by controlling the indicator light to display different states. An indication of status information;

Preferably, the controller detects that the washing machine is not inserted into the WiFi module or the washing machine is inserted into the WiFi module but fails to connect to the network or the washing machine is inserted into the WiFi module but the router is not successfully connected to the router;

The controller detects that the WiFi module of the washing machine is successfully connected to the router, but when not connected to the server, the control indicator is in a slow flashing state;

When the controller detects that the WiFi module is inserted into the washing machine and successfully connects the router and the server but does not authorize the smart terminal to perform remote control, the control indicator is always on;

When the controller detects the communication connection between the washing machine and the intelligent terminal, and successfully authorizes the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine, the control indicator is in a fast blinking state.
The operating state indication method of the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the indication state of the state indicating device is determined by the blinking state of the indicator light and the display color of the indicator light.
A washing machine working state indicating method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the smart terminal and the washing machine establish a first channel for the smart terminal to receive the washing machine state information and a washing machine for receiving the smart terminal. Sending a second channel of the control command, when the washing machine and the intelligent terminal are successfully networked respectively, the first channel is in a connected state, the indication state of the state indicating device corresponds to a state, and when the second channel is in a connected state, the state indicates the indication state of the device Corresponding to another state;

Preferably, the smart terminal comprises a plurality of computers connected to the washing machine network through the first channel, and when the second channel between any smart terminal and the washing machine is connected, the washing machine controls the second between the other smart terminals and the washing machine. The channels are all off.
The washing machine working state indicating method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the washing machine comprises an activation device, and the activation device is provided with an indicator light, and the activation device is triggered. The washing machine authorizes the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine, and the indicator light is displayed in a corresponding state.
The method for indicating the working status of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the activation device comprises an NFC card reader, and the smart terminal is provided with an NFC tag, the NFC tag. After the reading range of the NFC card reader, the NFC card reader is in a triggered state, and the washing machine authorizes the smart terminal to remotely control the washing machine, and the indicator light is displayed in a corresponding state.
A washing machine system using the washing machine working state indicating method according to any one of claims 1-8.
The washing machine system according to claim 9, comprising a controller, a cloud server, a smart terminal, and a status indicating device;

The controller is connected to the cloud server network, and is configured to collect the networking status and authorization status information of the washing machine and send the working status information of the washing machine to the cloud server;

The cloud server is respectively connected to the controller and the intelligent terminal network, and is configured to receive the working status information of the washing machine transmitted by the controller, send the information to the intelligent terminal, and receive the control command transmitted by the intelligent terminal, and send the control command to the controller. ;

The smart terminal is connected to the cloud server network, and is configured to display status information of the washing machine in real time and to receive a user input control command;

The status indicating device is connected to the controller, the status indicating device determines the indication status according to the washing machine networking state and the authorization status information collected by the controller, or the controller controls the status indicating device according to the washing machine networking status and the authorization status information. Indicated status.