JP3120524B2 - Fully automatic washing machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fully automatic washing machine for washing a user's favorite by learning a user's favorite washing method which differs depending on the quantity and quality of the laundry and the state of dirt. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a fully automatic washing machine of this kind,
When deciding a washing element such as a washing time, the user has to select from several stages that are given in advance. Alternatively, one of the several types of washing courses provided in advance is selected to uniquely determine the washing conditions.

[0003]

In order for a user to perform his / her favorite washing using a washing machine having a conventional construction, the water level and the washing time must be adjusted according to the condition of the laundry every time the washing is performed. Had to be set.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves this problem, and learns washing preferences of a user so that washing can be automatically performed at a desired water level without having to set washing conditions each time. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a fully automatic washing machine which can be performed in a washing machine.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a fully automatic washing machine capable of automatically performing washing at a washing time desired by a user.

[0006]

A first means of the present invention for achieving the first object is a cloth amount detecting means, a water level determining means, and a corrected water level input section for receiving a user's preference regarding the water level. And fuzzy estimation from the detected value of the cloth amount detecting means.
Correction water level determination means for determining a correction water level according to the theory, and the water level determination means based on an input value from the correction water level input unit.
This is a fully automatic washing machine including water level learning means for adjusting the value of the consequent part of fuzzy inference .

[0007] second means of the present invention for achieving the second object, a cloth amount detection means, a contamination detection unit, a washing time input unit for accepting user preferences to a washing time, the fabric From the detection values of the amount detection means and the stain detection means,
Washing time determining means for determining washing time by fuzzy inference
When, it is an automatic washing machine consists of a washing time learning means for adjusting the value of the consequent part of the fuzzy inference of the washing time determination means in accordance with input values from the washing time input unit.

[0008]

The first means of the present invention operates to learn and correct the parameters for determining the water level according to the user's input regarding the preference of the water level. Therefore, after learning, the water level is automatically set to the user's preference.

Further, the second means of the present invention operates to learn and correct the parameters for determining the washing time according to the user's input regarding the preference of the washing time. Therefore, after the learning, the washing time set by the user is automatically set.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the first means of the present invention will be described below.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a washing tub for storing laundry and washing water, and 2 denotes an outer tub for storing washing water. Reference numeral 3 denotes a pulsator provided at the inner bottom of the washing tub 1 for stirring laundry and washing water. The pulsator 3 is driven by the rotation of a motor 4 via a belt 5. Numeral 6 is a cloth amount detecting means for detecting a load on the pulsator 3 when the pulsator 3 rotates to detect a cloth amount. Reference numeral 7 denotes a water level detection unit that detects the water level in the washing tub 1 by detecting the air pressure in the air trap 8. The water in and out of the washing tub 1 is controlled by a water supply valve 9 and a drain valve 10 driven by a solenoid valve. Reference numeral 11 denotes a correction water level input unit for receiving a user's favorite correction water level, which is configured to input a higher or lower water level within a predetermined range. The water level determining means 12 determines the water level appropriately based on the detection value of the cloth amount detecting means 6.
Reference numeral 4 controls at least the water supply valve 9 in accordance with the output of the water level determination means 12 to realize an appropriate water level.

In the present embodiment, the water level determining means 12 comprises a basic water level determining means 16 and a corrected water level determining means 17, as shown in FIG. The water level is the basic water level determination means 16
And the output of the corrected water level determining means 17. Further, the correction water level determining means 17 is composed of a fuzzy inference operation unit 18 and a rule storage unit 19. In this embodiment, the consequent part uses real-valued fuzzy inference, and determines the correction water level from the detected value of the cloth amount detecting means 6.
The water level learning unit 13 corrects the consequent part of the fuzzy inference stored in the rule storage unit 19 based on the following equation according to the input value from the corrected water level input unit 11.

Wi (n + 1) = Wi (n) + K1 * Ui * E (1) Wi (n + 1): Consequent part after modification of i-th rule Wi (n): i-th Consequent part before correction of rule K1: Learning gain Ui: Conformity of i-th rule E: Input value from corrected water level input unit The operation of the washing machine of the present embodiment will be described focusing on the operation of the water level determination means 12. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6A shows the relationship between the input and output of the basic water level determining means 16. FIG. 4B shows the membership function of the antecedent part of fuzzy inference. In this embodiment, three membership functions representing “small”, “normal”, and “large” are used. I have. The following rules are used for fuzzy inference.

Rule 1: if the amount of cloth is small then the corrected water level is W1 Rule 2: if the amount of cloth is normal then corrected water level is W2 Rule 3: if the amount of cloth is large then W3 is the consequent part of fuzzy inference (W1, W2, W3) are all set to zero in the initial state before learning. As an example, the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detecting means 6 is x, and the input value from the corrected water level input unit 11 is E. At this time, since the membership value of the cloth quantity x is “low” for U1 and “normal” for U2, the real value of the consequent part after learning once is W1 = K1 * U1 * E W2 = K1 * U2 * E W3 = 0. FIG. 3C shows the input / output relationship of the corrected water level determining means 17 at this time. The correction water level when the cloth amount is x approaches the desired correction water level E without limitation by appropriately setting the learning gain and the number of times of learning. FIG. 3D shows the relationship between the final cloth amount obtained by adding the basic water level and the corrected water level and the water level. As can be seen from FIG. 3 (d), by learning the desired water level for the cloth amount x, the water level is also corrected for the surrounding cloth amount. That is, according to the present embodiment, even if the user does not teach the desired water level for all the cloth amounts, the desired water level for the entire cloth amount can be realized by teaching several patterns. In addition,
The water level determination unit 12, the water level learning unit 13, and the first control unit 14 can be easily realized by a microcomputer.

Next, an embodiment of the second means of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 20 is a washing tub for storing laundry and washing water, and 21 is an outer tub for storing washing water. Reference numeral 22 denotes a pulsator for stirring the laundry and the washing water.
Provided on the inner bottom of the. The pulsator 22 includes a belt 24
And driven by the rotation of the motor 23 via the. 25
Is a cloth amount detecting means for detecting a load on the pulsator 22 when the pulsator 22 rotates, thereby detecting a cloth amount. Reference numeral 26 denotes a dirt detecting means for detecting the degree of dirt of water in the washing tub 20 based on the transmittance of light in the drain hose. Reference numeral 27 denotes a corrected washing time input unit for receiving a user's favorite washing time, which is configured to input a longer or shorter washing time within a predetermined range. Washing time determining means 28
Determines the washing time appropriately based on the detection values of the cloth amount detecting means 25 and the dirt detecting means 26. Second control unit 30
Controls at least ON / OFF of the motor 23 according to the output of the washing time determination means 28.

Next, the configuration of the washing time determining means 28 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the washing time determining means 28 comprises a basic washing time determining means 32 and a corrected washing time determining means 33. The washing time output in this manner is represented by the sum of the outputs of the basic washing time determining means 32 and the corrected washing time determining means 33. Further, the correction washing time determining means 33 is composed of a fuzzy inference operation unit 34 and a rule storage unit 35. In the present embodiment, the consequent part uses real-valued fuzzy inference, and
And the correction washing time is determined from the detection value of the stain detection means 26. In addition, nine rules shown in the rule table of FIG. 6 are used for the rules of fuzzy inference, and the membership functions are as shown in FIG. Washing time learning means 29
Modifies the consequent part of the fuzzy inference stored in the rule storage unit 35 based on the following expression according to the input value from the corrected washing time input unit 27.

Wj (n + 1) = Wj (n) + K2 * Uj * T (2) Wj (n + 1): consequent part after correction of the j-th rule Wj (n): j-th Consequent part before rule modification K2: Learning gain Uj: Fitness of j-th rule T: Input value from corrected washing time input unit Next, regarding the operation of the washing machine of this embodiment, The operation will be mainly described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8A shows the input / output relationship of the basic washing time determination means 32, and FIG.
Represents the relationship between the input and output of the correction washing time determining means 33. FIG. 8 (c) shows the sum of the outputs of the basic washing time determining means 32 and the corrected washing time determining means 33, and finally determines the washing time. Here, the characteristic of the corrected washing time determining means 33 in FIG.
This is corrected by the operation of FIG. 9, and this will be described with reference to FIG. The consequent real numerical values of the fuzzy inference of the corrected washing time determining means 33 are all zero in the initial state before learning, and as shown in FIG.
The output of 3 is zero in all spaces. Here, as an example, the detected value of the cloth amount detecting means 25 is X1, the detected value of the stain detecting means 26 is X2, and the input value from the corrected washing time input unit 27 is
Suppose it was T. At this time, the consequent part real value stored in the rule storage unit 35 is corrected based on the equation (2). As a result, the input / output characteristics of the corrected washing time determining means 33 change as shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 9 (b), one sample of (X1, X2) corresponds to one user.
By the input of the corrected washing time, the input / output characteristics in the vicinity are also corrected.

That is, according to the present embodiment, even if the user does not teach the corrected washing time for all the amount of cloth and the degree of dirt, the user can perform the desired washing with the whole amount of cloth and the degree of dirt by teaching several patterns. Time is realized. The washing time 28 / washing time learning means 29 and the second control unit 30 can be easily realized by a microcomputer. Further, the corrected water level determining means 18 and the corrected washing time determining means 33
Is realized by fuzzy inference in the present embodiment, but can be similarly realized by information processing means having a learning function such as a neural network.

[0018]

According to the first means of the present invention, the cloth amount detecting means, the water level determining means, the correction water level input unit for receiving the user's preference regarding the water level, and the detection of the cloth amount detecting means
Corrected water level to determine corrected water level by fuzzy inference from values
Determining means and a water level learning means for adjusting a value of a consequent part of the fuzzy inference of the water level determining means by an input value from the corrected water level input section, so that a user's favorite water level can be easily learned. Further, it is possible to realize a washing machine that can automatically perform washing at a desired water level without setting a washing condition every time by a user.

According to the second means of the present invention, the cloth amount detecting means, the dirt detecting means, the washing time input section for receiving the user's preference regarding the washing time, and the cloth amount detecting means
Washing by fuzzy inference from
Washing time determining means for determining time; and fuzzy operation of the washing time determining means in accordance with an input value from the washing time input section.
As a configuration having washing time learning means for adjusting the value of the consequent part of the inference, it is possible to easily learn the washing time desired by the user, and to perform the desired washing time without setting the washing condition every time by the user. It is possible to realize a washing machine that can automatically perform washing in time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a washing machine showing an embodiment of a first means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the water level determination unit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the water level determining means.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a washing machine showing an embodiment of the second means of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a washing time determination unit;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a rule table which is a rule of the fuzzy inference.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the membership function.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the washing time determining means.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the correction washing time determination means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1.20 Washing tub 2.21 Outer tub 3.22 Pulsator 4.23 Motor 6.25 Cloth amount detecting means 11 Corrected water level input unit 12 Water level determining means 13 Water level learning means 26 Soil detecting means 27 Corrected washing time input unit 28 Washing Time determination means 29 Washing time learning means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masafumi Sadahira 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-3-141996 (JP, A) JP-A-2-255185 (JP, A) JP-A-3-168192 (JP, A) JP-A-1-274797 (JP, A) JP-A-3-158191 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 33/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cloth amount detecting means, a water level determining means, a correction water level input unit for receiving a user's preference regarding the water level,
Corrected by fuzzy inference from the detected value of the cloth amount detecting means
Correction level determining means for determining a water level , and fuzzy inference of the water level determining means based on an input value from the correction level input section.
Fully automatic washing machine comprising a water level learning means for adjusting the value of the consequent part . 2. A cloth amount detecting means, a dirt detecting means, a washing time input unit for receiving a user's preference regarding a washing time, and a detection value of the cloth amount detecting means and the dirt detecting means.
Washing time determining means for determining washing time by fuzzy inference
And a washing time learning means for adjusting a value of a consequent part of the fuzzy inference of the washing time determining means according to an input value from the washing time input section.