Control method and washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11091865-B2
Application number	US-201916275490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2019
Priority date	Apr 3, 2018
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A computer is used to obtain arrival time required for a user of a washing machine to arrive at an installation position of the washing machine based on a position of the user and the installation position, and when it is determined that the washing machine is performing washing based on operation information of the washing machine, when the arrival time is longer than washing completion time required for the washing machine to complete washing, to transmit instruction infomiation for adding a process of soaking laundry in water by the washing machine or for changing time in the process to the washing machine.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control method for controlling a washing machine by utilizing a computer, wherein the washing machine and the computer are operatively connected via a communication network, the method comprising:
obtaining a position, by utilizing a sensor, of a user of a washing machine and an installation position of the washing machine;
obtaining arrival time required for the user to arrive at the installation position based on the position of the user and the installation position;
obtaining operation information of the washing machine;
determining whether the washing machine is performing washing based on the operation information;
obtaining washing completion time required for the washing machine to complete washing when it is determined that the washing machine is performing washing;
generating instruction information for adding a first washing process of soaking laundry in water by the washing machine or for changing time in the first washing process in a case where the arrival time is longer than the washing completion time; and
transmitting the generated instruction information to the washing machine, wherein
the first washing process includes a detergent soaking process of soaking laundry in water in which detergent is dissolved, and
in a case where the arrival time satisfies a predetermined delay condition, instruction information for making transition to the detergent soaking process is generated.

2. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where the arrival time is longer than the washing completion time when the washing machine is in a washing process of washing laundry soaked in water in which detergent is dissolved or completes the washing process, instruction information for making transition to the detergent soaking process is generated.

3. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein
the first washing process includes a water soaking process of soaking laundry in water, and
in a case where the arrival time is longer than the washing completion time when the washing machine is (i) in a water discharge process of discharging water from a washing tub, a dewatering process of dewatering laundry, or a rinsing process of rinsing laundry with water, or (ii) completes the water discharge process, the dewatering process, or the rinsing process, instruction information for making transition to the water soaking process is generated.

4. The control method according to claim 3 , wherein
the washing completion time is time required for the washing machine to complete washing from a process preceding transition to the water soaking process, and
when the arrival time becomes shorter than the washing completion time during the water soaking process, instruction information for making transition to a process preceding transition to the water soaking process is generated.

5. The control method according to claim 4 , wherein,
further, in a case where, during the first washing process, the arrival time becomes shorter than time required for starting a final dewatering process from a process subsequent to the first washing process, instruction information for making transition to a process subsequent to the first washing process is generated.

6. The control method according to claim 3 , wherein
in a case where elapsed time from the transition to the water soaking process becomes a predetermined time or more during the water soaking process, instruction information for making transition to a process preceding transition to the water soaking process is generated.

7. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein
the predetermined delay condition includes a condition that the arrival time is longer than the washing completion time by predetermined first time or more.

8. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein
the arrival time is obtained at a predetermined time interval, and
the predetermined delay condition includes a condition that the arrival time is not reduced by predetermined second time or more.

9. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein
the washing completion time is time required for the washing machine to complete washing from a process subsequent to a washing process of washing laundry soaked in water in which detergent is dissolved, and
when the arrival time becomes shorter than the washing completion time during the detergent soaking process, instruction information for making transition to a process subsequent to the washing process is generated.

10. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein
at the completion of a process immediately preceding transition of the washing machine to a final dewatering process of dewatering laundry to complete washing,
(i) in a case where a distance between the installation position and the position of the user is within a predetermined reference distance, instruction information for making transition to the final dewatering process is generated, and
(ii) in a case where the distance is out of the predetermined reference distance, instruction information for making transition to the water soaking process is generated.

11. The control method according to claim 10 , wherein
after the transition to the water soaking process due to the distance being out of the reference distance, in a case where the distance becomes within the predetermined reference distance, instruction information for making transition to the final dewatering process is generated.

12. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where elapsed time from the transition to the detergent soaking process becomes predetermined third time or more during the detergent soaking process, instruction information for making transition of the washing machine to a process subsequent to a washing process of washing laundry soaked in water in which detergent is dissolved is generated.

13. The control method according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where the arrival time is longer than the washing completion time, instruction information for making transition to a disinfection process of disinfecting laundry in a washing tub is further generated.

14. The control method according to claim 13 , wherein
in a case where the arrival time satisfies a predetermined delay condition, instruction information for making transition to the disinfection process is generated.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kamiyama Teruo
• Nakaso Mariko
• Sugimoto Hiroko

Classifications

• D06F33/00

  Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers  (D06F31/00 takes precedence; details of control systems therefor D06F34/00; control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers D06F58/32) · CPC title

• D06F2103/00

  Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers · CPC title

• D06F2103/38

  Time, e.g. duration · CPC title

• D06F2105/56

  Remaining operation time; Remaining operational cycles · CPC title

• D06F2105/52

  Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps · CPC title