JP2005034412A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine for which the operation contents of the washing machine are easily changed even in the case that a user is present at a place away from the washing machine such as the time of being out. <P>SOLUTION: The washing machine comprises a memory 51 where the operation contents for a washing operation are written, a control part 3 provided so as to perform an operation for the washing operation on the basis of the operation contents written in the memory 51, and a rewrite part 52 for rewriting the operation contents written in the memory 51 on the basis of rewrite signals transmitted from a portable telephone. The control part 3 performs the operation for the washing operation on the basis of the operation contents rewritten by the rewrite part 52. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine including a memory in which operation content for a washing operation is written, and a control unit provided to execute the operation for the washing operation based on the operation content written in the memory. About.

  A conventional washing machine that performs a washing operation, a rinsing operation, and a dehydrating operation based on an operation course in which the contents of the washing operation, the rinsing operation, and the dehydrating operation are defined will be described.

  6 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional washing machine 90, FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram showing the configuration of the conventional washing machine 90, and FIG. 8 shows an operation unit provided in the conventional washing machine 90. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of 98.

  The washing machine 90 includes an outer frame 25 having a substantially rectangular shape. A water receiving tank 21 having a substantially cylindrical shape is provided inside the outer frame 25. The water receiving tank 21 is suspended from the outer frame 25 by a suspension rod 24. The water receiving tub 21 contains a washing / dehydrating tub 22 having a substantially cylindrical shape. A stirring blade 23 is provided at the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub 22 so as to be rotatable around an axis along the vertical direction.

  The outer frame 25 is provided with a motor 27 for rotating the stirring blade 23. The motor 27 is constituted by a direct current brushless motor. A power switching mechanism 26 is provided between the motor 27 and the stirring blade 23. The power switching mechanism 26 decelerates and transmits the driving force from the motor 27 to the stirring blade 23 during washing, and transmits the driving force from the motor 27 to the stirring blade 23 on a one-to-one basis during dehydration.

  On the water receiving tank 21, a cover body 28 is provided for forming a sprinkling discharge portion. A water supply valve 31 is provided above the water receiving tank 21. The water supply valve 31 is provided to supply water into the washing and dewatering tub 22. A drain valve 32 is provided below the water receiving tank 21. The drain valve 32 is provided for draining the washing water in the water receiving tank 21.

  A connection portion 30 is provided at the lower portion of the water receiving tank 21. The water receiving tank 21 is provided with a water level detector 29. The water level detector 29 converts the water pressure at the connecting portion 30 into an electrical frequency in order to detect the water level of the water receiving tank 21.

  The motor 27 is driven by an inverter circuit 37. The inverter circuit 37 has six switching elements 38A to 38F. Each of the switching elements 38A to 38F has a parallel circuit composed of a power transistor and a reverse conducting diode.

  The washing machine 90 has a power supply 40. The power supply 40 supplies a voltage to the inverter circuit 37 via a DC power supply conversion device constituted by a diode bridge 41, a choke coil 42 and a smoothing capacitor 43. The power source 40 also supplies a voltage to a pump, a water supply valve 31, a drain valve 32, and a power conversion mechanism 26 (not shown). The motor 27 is provided with three position detectors 35. Each position detector 35 detects the rotational position of the motor 27.

  The washing machine 90 includes the control unit 3. The control unit 3 has a memory 51. In the memory 51, operation contents for the washing operation are written.

  The control unit 3 is provided with a rotation control unit 34. The rotation control unit 34 includes the operation contents for the washing operation written in the memory 51, the rotation position of the motor 27 detected by each position detector 35, and the water level of the water receiving tank 21 detected by the water level detector 29. The drive circuit 36 is controlled based on the above. The drive circuit 36 drives the inverter circuit 37 based on an instruction from the rotation control unit 34.

  A pump (not shown), the water supply valve 31, the drain valve 32, and the power conversion mechanism 26 are connected to the load driving unit 33. The load drive unit 33 drives a pump (not shown), the water supply valve 31, the drain valve 32, and the power conversion mechanism 26 based on instructions from the control unit 3, respectively.

  The washing machine 90 includes an operation unit 98. The operation unit 98 includes a driving course selection button 4J for selecting one of a plurality of basic driving courses and special driving courses, and a plurality of driving courses corresponding to each of the plurality of basic driving courses and special driving courses. A selection lamp 4D is provided. Each driving course selection lamp 4D is composed of LEDs. The basic driving course includes, for example, an “automatic course”, a “hurry course”, and a “home cleaning course”. “Omakase Course” is the most standard driving course. For example, the washing time is set to “9 minutes”, the number of rinses is set to “2 times water injection”, and the dehydration time is “7 minutes”. It is a course set to "". The “hurry course” is a basic operation course for washing in a hurry. For example, the washing time is set to “3 minutes”, the number of rinsings is set to “one water injection”, and the dehydration time is set. Is set to “3 minutes”. “House cleaning course” is a basic operation course for cleaning in a washing machine at home. For example, the washing time is set to “12 minutes” and the number of times of rinsing is set to “2 times”. The dehydration time is set to “40 seconds”. In the “special operation course”, the washing time in the washing operation, the number of times of rinsing in the rinsing operation, and the dehydration time in the dehydration operation can be arbitrarily set. The driving course selection lamp 4D is provided for each of “Omakase Course”, “Hurry Course”, “House Cleaning Course”, and “Special Driving Course”. Every time the driving course selection button 4J is pressed, the driving course selection lamp 4D is switched on in the order of “automatic course”, “hurry course”, “home cleaning course”, and “special driving course”.

  The operation unit 98 inputs the washing time in the washing operation, the number of times of rinsing in the rinsing operation and the dehydration time in the dehydration operation, and the washing time, the number of times of rinsing and the dehydration time input to the input unit 4. And a display unit 5 for displaying. The input unit 4 includes a button for setting a washing time, a button for setting the number of times of rinsing, and a button for setting a dehydrating time. The operation content for the washing operation input to the input unit 4 is written into the memory 51.

  In the washing machine 90 configured as described above, when the “special driving course” is selected by pressing the driving course selection button 4J, washing that is prescribed in advance in the “standard course”, which is the most standard driving course. The time, the number of times of rinsing, and the dehydration time are displayed on the display unit 5. Then, the user corrects the washing time, the number of times of rinsing and the dehydration time of the “Omakase Course” while referring to the washing time, the number of times of rinsing and the dehydration time of the “Omakase Course” displayed on the display unit 5. The desired washing time, the number of times of rinsing, and the dehydration time are set by pressing each button constituting the input unit 4.

Then, the operation content set by the input unit 4 is written in the memory 51. Thereafter, the control unit 3 controls the drive circuit 36 and the load drive unit 33 so as to execute the washing operation, the rinsing operation, and the dehydrating operation based on the contents of the washing operation written in the memory 51.
JP 2002-119788 A

  However, in the configuration of the conventional washing machine 90 described above, for example, when the content of the washing operation written in the memory 51 is a reserved operation or the like, the reservation standby time for the reserved operation or the like is changed when going out. There is a problem that it is inconvenient because it cannot be done.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can easily change the operation content of the washing machine even when the user is away from the washing machine, such as when going out.

  The washing machine according to the present invention includes a memory in which operation content for a washing operation is written, and a control provided to execute the operation for the washing operation based on the operation content written in the memory. And rewriting means for rewriting the operation content written in the memory based on a rewrite signal transmitted from the mobile phone, and the control means is based on the operation content rewritten by the rewriting means. And performing the operation for the washing operation.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if it is a case where a user exists in the place away from the washing machine, such as going out, the washing machine which can change the driving | running | working content of a washing machine easily can be provided.

  The washing machine according to the present embodiment is provided with rewriting means for rewriting the operation content written in the memory based on the rewrite signal transmitted from the mobile phone. For this reason, the operation of the washing machine can be easily controlled from a remote place by a mobile phone.

  In this embodiment, the rewriting signal includes information indicating the numerical value of the reservation waiting time of the washing machine, and the rewriting means rewrites the numerical value of the reservation waiting time of the washing machine based on the rewriting signal. It is preferable.

  The mobile phone transmits the rewrite signal while the washing machine is waiting for a laundry reservation, and the rewriting means is configured to determine the operation content written in the memory while waiting for the laundry reservation of the washing machine based on the rewrite signal. It is preferable to rewrite

  A control terminal connected to the mobile phone via the Internet; and a transmission / reception unit provided to communicate with the control terminal, wherein the control terminal transmits the rewrite transmitted from the mobile phone. A signal is received via the Internet and transmitted to the transmitting / receiving unit, and the rewriting means rewrites the operation content written in the memory based on the rewriting signal received by the transmitting / receiving unit from the control terminal. Is preferred.

  The transmitting / receiving unit preferably communicates with the control terminal wirelessly.

  The transmitting / receiving unit preferably communicates with the control terminal according to a protocol based on the ECHONET standard.

  The rewriting signal includes at least one of a washing time, a water amount, a number of times of rinsing, and a dehydrating time for the washing operation, and the rewriting means is configured to perform the washing operation based on the rewriting signal. It is preferable to rewrite at least one of the washing time, the amount of water, the number of times of rinsing and the dehydration time.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a washing machine system 100 according to the present embodiment. The washing machine system 100 includes a washing machine 110 and a control terminal 120 for controlling the washing machine 110. The control terminal 120 is connected to the mobile phone 58 via the Internet 57.

  2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the washing machine 110, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the washing machine system 100, and FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the configuration of the operation unit 8A provided in the washing machine 110. It is.

  The washing machine 110 includes an outer frame 25 having a substantially rectangular shape. A water receiving tank 21 having a substantially cylindrical shape is provided inside the outer frame 25. The water receiving tank 21 is suspended from the outer frame 25 by a suspension rod 24. The water receiving tub 21 contains a washing / dehydrating tub 22 having a substantially cylindrical shape. A stirring blade 23 is provided at the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub 22 so as to be rotatable around an axis along the vertical direction.

  The water receiving tank 21 is provided with a motor 27 for rotating the stirring blade 23. The motor 27 is constituted by a direct current brushless motor. A power switching mechanism 26 is provided between the motor 27 and the stirring blade 23. The power switching mechanism 26 decelerates and transmits the driving force from the motor 27 to the stirring blade 23 during washing, and transmits the driving force from the motor 27 to the stirring blade 23 on a one-to-one basis during dehydration.

  On the water receiving tank 21, a cover body 28 is provided for forming a sprinkling discharge portion. A water supply valve 31 is provided above the water receiving tank 21. The water supply valve 31 is provided to supply water into the washing and dewatering tub 22. A drain valve 32 is provided below the water receiving tank 21. The drain valve 32 is provided for draining the washing water in the water receiving tank 21.

  A connection portion 30 is provided at the lower portion of the water receiving tank 21. The water receiving tank 21 is provided with a water level detector 29. The water level detector 29 converts the water pressure at the connecting portion 30 into an electrical frequency in order to detect the water level of the water receiving tank 21.

  The motor 27 is driven by an inverter circuit 37. The inverter circuit 37 has six switching elements 38A to 38F. Each of the switching elements 38A to 38F has a parallel circuit composed of a power transistor and a reverse conducting diode.

  The washing machine 110 has a power source 40. The power supply 40 supplies a voltage to the inverter circuit 37 via a DC power supply conversion device constituted by a diode bridge 41, a choke coil 42 and a smoothing capacitor 43. The power source 40 also supplies a voltage to a pump, a water supply valve 31, a drain valve 32, and a power conversion mechanism 26 (not shown). The motor 27 is provided with three position detectors 35. Each position detector 35 detects the rotational position of the motor 27.

  The washing machine 110 includes a control unit 3. The control unit 3 has a memory 51. In the memory 51, operation contents for the washing operation are written. The control unit 3 is provided with a rotation control unit 34. The rotation control unit 34 includes the operation contents for the washing operation written in the memory 51, the rotation position of the motor 27 detected by each position detector 35, and the water level of the water receiving tank 21 detected by the water level detector 29. The drive circuit 36 is controlled based on the above. The drive circuit 36 drives the inverter circuit 37 based on an instruction from the rotation control unit 34.

  A pump (not shown), the water supply valve 31, the drain valve 32, and the power conversion mechanism 26 are connected to the load driving unit 33. The load drive unit 33 drives a pump (not shown), the water supply valve 31, the drain valve 32, and the power conversion mechanism 26 based on instructions from the control unit 3, respectively.

  The washing machine 110 includes an operation unit 8A. The operation unit 8A includes a driving course selection button 4J for selecting one of a plurality of basic driving courses and special driving courses, and a plurality of driving courses corresponding to each of the plurality of basic driving courses and special driving courses. A selection lamp 4D is provided. Each driving course selection lamp 4D is composed of LEDs. The basic driving course includes, for example, an “automatic course”, a “hurry course”, and a “home cleaning course”. “Omakase Course” is the most standard driving course. For example, the washing time is set to “9 minutes”, the number of rinses is set to “2 times water injection”, and the dehydration time is “7 minutes”. It is a course set to "". The “hurry course” is a basic operation course for washing in a hurry. For example, the washing time is set to “3 minutes”, the number of rinsings is set to “one water injection”, and the dehydration time is set. Is set to “3 minutes”. “House cleaning course” is a basic operation course for cleaning in a washing machine at home. For example, the washing time is set to “12 minutes” and the number of times of rinsing is set to “2 times”. The dehydration time is set to “40 seconds”. In the “special operation course”, the washing time in the washing operation, the number of times of rinsing in the rinsing operation, and the dehydration time in the dehydration operation can be arbitrarily set. The driving course selection lamp 4D is provided for each of “Omakase Course”, “Hurry Course”, “House Cleaning Course”, and “Special Driving Course”. Every time the driving course selection button 4J is pressed, the driving course selection lamp 4D is switched on in the order of “automatic course”, “hurry course”, “home cleaning course”, and “special driving course”.

  The operation unit 8A includes an input unit 4 for inputting the washing time in the washing operation, the number of rinses in the rinse operation, and the dehydration time in the dehydration operation, and the washing time, the number of rinses, and the dehydration time input to the input unit 4. And a display unit 5 for displaying. The input unit 4 includes a button for setting a washing time, a button for setting the number of times of rinsing, and a button for setting a dehydrating time. The operation content for the washing operation input to the input unit 4 is written into the memory 51.

  The control terminal 120 is connected to the Internet via the modem 54 and the modular 56. The control terminal 120 is provided with a transmission / reception unit 6. The transmission / reception unit 6 communicates wirelessly with a transmission / reception unit 53 provided in the washing machine 110 according to a protocol based on the ECHONET standard.

  The control unit 3 is provided with a rewriting unit 52. The rewrite unit 52 rewrites the operation content written in the memory 51 based on the rewrite signal transmitted from the mobile phone 58 via the Internet 57, the modular 56, the modem 54, the control terminal 120 and the transmission / reception unit 53. The control unit 3 executes an operation for the washing operation based on the operation content of the memory 51 rewritten by the rewriting unit 52.

  The rewriting signal includes information indicating the numerical value of the reservation waiting time of the washing machine 110, and the rewriting unit 52 rewrites the numerical value of the reservation waiting time of the washing machine 110 based on the rewriting signal. The rewriting signal may include at least one of a washing time, a water amount, and a dehydration time for the washing operation, and the rewriting unit 52 determines whether the washing time and the water amount for the washing operation are based on the rewriting signal. You may rewrite at least one with dehydration time.

  The mobile phone 58 preferably transmits a rewrite signal while the washing machine 110 is waiting for a laundry reservation, and the rewriting unit 52 uses the operation content written in the memory 51 as a rewrite signal while the washing machine 110 is waiting for a laundry reservation. It is preferable to rewrite based on this.

  The operation of the washing machine system 100 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the washing machine system 100 according to the present embodiment.

  First, the washing machine 110 and the control terminal 120 are turned on to enter an initial standby state (step S1). And the content of a driving course is set by the operation part 8A (step S2). The contents of the set driving course are written in a memory 51 provided in the control unit 3.

  Next, a reservation time for starting the set driving course is set by the operation unit 8A (step S3). Then, the set reservation time value is written in the memory 51 (step S4). Next, the reservation is started by the operation unit 8A (step S5). Thereafter, the washing machine 110 enters a reservation standby state (step S6).

  Then, it is determined whether or not to change the reservation time (step S7). When changing the reservation time (YES in step S7), it is determined whether to change the reservation time using a mobile phone (step S8).

  When changing the reservation time using the mobile phone (YES in step S8), the mobile phone 58 is operated to set the reservation time (step S9). Information representing the reservation time set by the mobile phone 58 is transmitted to the transmission / reception unit 6 provided in the control terminal 120 via the Internet 57. The transmission / reception unit 6 that has received the information indicating the reservation time set by the mobile phone 58 transmits the information indicating the reservation time to the transmission / reception unit 53 provided in the washing machine 110 according to a protocol based on the ECHONET standard. Then, the rewriting unit 52 rewrites the numerical value of the reservation time stored in the memory 51 based on the information indicating the reservation time received by the transmission / reception unit 53 (step S15). Then, it returns to step S7.

  When the mobile phone is not used (NO in step S8), the reservation time is changed by operation unit 8A (step S10). Then, the rewriting unit 52 rewrites the numerical value of the reservation time stored in the memory 51 based on the reservation time changed by the operation unit 8A (step S11). Then, it returns to step S7.

  When the reservation time is not changed (NO in step S7), it is determined whether or not the set time for starting the washing operation has come (step S12). When it is determined that the set time has not yet been reached (NO in step S12), the numerical value for the elapsed time is subtracted from the numerical value of the reserved time stored in the memory 51 (step S13). Then, it returns to step S7.

  When it is determined that the set time for starting the washing operation has come (YES in step S12), a sequence for executing the washing operation is started based on the set operation course (step S14).

  In addition, although the example which rewrites the numerical value of reservation time with the mobile telephone 58 was shown, this invention is not limited to this. The mobile phone 58 may be configured to rewrite at least one of the washing time, the amount of water, the number of times of rinsing, and the dehydration time for the washing operation.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the rewrite unit 52 that rewrites the operation content written in the memory 51 based on the rewrite signal transmitted from the mobile phone 58 is provided. For this reason, the operation of the washing machine 110 can be easily controlled from a remote place by the mobile phone 58.

  The present invention can be applied to a washing machine for washing laundry.

The schematic diagram which shows the structure of the washing machine system which concerns on this Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the washing machine of the washing machine system which concerns on this Embodiment The block diagram which shows the structure of the washing machine system which concerns on this Embodiment. The front view which shows the structure of the operation part provided in the washing machine which concerns on this Embodiment. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the washing machine system which concerns on this Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the conventional washing machine Block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional washing machine The front view which shows the structure of the operation part provided in the conventional washing machine.

Explanation of symbols

3 Control unit 6 Transmission / reception unit 51 Memory 52 Rewriting unit 53 Transmission / reception unit 57 Internet 58 Mobile phone 110 Washing machine 120 Control terminal

Claims (7)

Memory in which operation details for washing operation are written,
Control means provided for executing an operation for the washing operation based on the operation content written in the memory;
Rewriting means for rewriting the operation content written in the memory based on a rewrite signal transmitted from the mobile phone,
The said control means performs the operation | movement for the said washing operation based on the operation | movement content rewritten by the said rewriting means, The washing machine characterized by the above-mentioned. The rewriting signal includes information indicating a numerical value of the reservation waiting time of the washing machine,
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the rewriting means rewrites a numerical value of a reservation waiting time of the washing machine based on the rewriting signal. The mobile phone transmits the rewrite signal while waiting for a laundry reservation of the washing machine,
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rewriting means rewrites the operation content written in the memory based on the rewrite signal while the washing machine is waiting for a laundry reservation. A control terminal connected to the mobile phone via the Internet;
A transmission / reception unit provided to communicate with the control terminal;
The control terminal receives the rewrite signal transmitted from the mobile phone via the Internet and transmits it to the transceiver unit,
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rewriting unit rewrites the operation content written in the memory based on the rewrite signal received by the transmission / reception unit from the control terminal.   The washing machine according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the transmission / reception unit communicates with the control terminal wirelessly.   The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the transmission / reception unit communicates with the control terminal according to a protocol based on an ECHONET standard. The rewriting signal includes at least one of a washing time, an amount of water, a number of times of rinsing, and a dehydrating time for the washing operation,
The rewriting means rewrites at least one of the washing time, the amount of water, the number of times of rinsing, and the dehydration time for the washing operation based on the rewriting signal. The washing machine described.

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