JPH04155509A - Inspection method for the control section of home appliances such as washing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a checking time by allowing an input circuit to correspond to a display circuit by a program different from a normal working operation, and successively turning-on and off the display element of a matrix circuit by a key input on a diagonal line in order to check the display element. CONSTITUTION:A function switch SW15 for selecting a program for checking a function is provided as one of operational switches 6, and the program for checking the function is preliminarily set at a controller 1 separately from a normal operational program. An operational key used at the time of a normal working operation is made to correspond in order to check the display element of a dynamic turning-on constituted of the matrix circuit, and this correspondence is operated by the program different from the normal working operation through the controller. Then, the light emitting diode of the matrix circuit is successively turned-on and off on the diagonal line by the key input. Thus, the turning-on and off of the light emitting diode for checking is operated by only one time of operation, and an operational mode is reduced, so that the checking time can be shortened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for inspecting a control unit of a home appliance such as a washing machine.

[Conventional technology]

A washing machine is an example of a home appliance in which a control unit includes an operation control device using a microcomputer or the like.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an agitation-type fully automatic tank-type washing machine. A water tank (not shown) is provided inside the outer box (20), and a A washing and dehydrating tank (23) equipped with a stirring blade (24) is installed in the washing and dehydrating tank (23), and these stirring blades (24) and washing and dehydrating tank (23) are connected to a motor (11) (the (not shown in FIG. 5).

In addition, on the top of the outer box (20) there is a control switch for operation (
6) Indicators using light emitting diode (LED) lamps (5a) (5b) (also not shown in Fig. 5) as display elements to display water level, course, etc. (not shown in Fig. 5). An operation panel (22) is provided, and the upper opening of the washing and dehydrating tank (23) is covered with a lid (21).

In the figure, (25) is the drain hose, (26) is the power cord, (
27) indicates the ground wire.

Figure 6 is a control circuit diagram of a washing machine, including an AC100 power supply (10), a drive circuit for a motor (11), and a water supply valve (1).
2) A torque motor (13) for controlling the drain valve is connected in parallel, and a microcomputer-based control device (1) is connected to the same power supply (10) via a constant voltage power supply circuit (14). .

In the figure, (9) is an AC clock circuit provided between this constant voltage power supply circuit (14) and the control device (1).

The input side terminals of the control device (1) include an oscillation circuit (2), a clock oscillation circuit (3), a reset circuit (4), and an operation panel (
22), a motor circuit detection circuit (7) having a speed generator, a lid switch (8) that detects opening/closing of the lid (21), and a water level sensor (15) are connected.

On the other hand, the output side terminal of the control device (1) has an L for character display.
ED (light emitting diode) lamp (5b) and other L
The IC circuit (17) for driving the ED lamp (5a) (1
8), and is also connected to other external component drive circuits (16).

In this way, LED (light emitting diode) lamps (5
a) The display, motor (11), etc. according to (5b) are controlled by the control device (1) by input from the operation switch (6).
After the control device (1) is assembled, the control device (1) is inspected to see if they operate correctly.

Conventionally, such an inspection method involves operating the control device (1) in exactly the same program as in a normal washing operation, and running all processes such as water supply, washing, draining, rinsing, draining, and spin-drying. The input circuit (6) and output circuits such as the LED lamps (5a) (5b) and motor (11) were inspected to see if they were operating normally.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of such an inspection, in particular an LED lamp (5
a) (5b) and the LED lamps (5a) (5b)
This is to test whether the operation switch (6) for lighting up is normal or not.Next, the conventional test method will be explained according to this flowchart.

When the power is turned on, the washing machine will start exercising according to the normal operation program.
) opens and water is supplied into the washing and dehydrating tank (23). Then, it is detected by the output from the water level sensor (15) that water has been supplied to a high water level, and the LED lamps 4 (5a),
If the LED lamp 8 (5b) lights up, it is determined that the output to the LEDs 4 and 8 is normal (step opening).

Next, press the course select switch SWa of the operation switches (6) once (step c), the strong course is set, and the LED lamp 3 (5a) displays the strong course.
) and the LED lamp 8 (5a) are lit (step 2), it is determined that the output to the switch SW4 and the LED 3.8 is normal.

Furthermore, when you press the course select switch SWa (step H) to select the hand washing course, the LED lamp 2 (5a) that displays the hand washing course will change to the LED lamp 8 (5a).
If a) lights up (to step), it is determined that the switch sw and the output to the LEDs 2 and 8 are normal.

Next, press the water level change switch SW (tempt),
If the LED lamp 4 (5a) indicating water level change and the LED lamp 7 (5a) light up (Steso Petit), it is determined that the output to the switch SW& and the LED 4.7 is normal.

Next, press the reservation switch SW 7 (Sute-no-pri), and if the LED lamp 12 (5a) that displays the reservation lights up (Step-no-puri), the Sui-nochi SW 7 and LED 1
It is determined that the output to 2 is normal, and in this way, press the various operation switches (6) one after another to switch on the switch input and the LED.
Check whether the output to the lamp is normal.

Finally, press the off switch 5W14 (step 7 bull),
If all LED lamps <5 a) (5b) go out, switch S W Ia and all LED lamps (5a)
The output relationship to (5b) is determined to be normal (step entrance).

And, with each of the above-mentioned Ste knobs, Sui Nochi SWI ~ 5
LED lamps (5a) (5b) compatible with WI4 (6)
) does not light up, if the light does not go out with STEP 7, it is determined that there is an abnormality in the LED output or SWITCH input and this is displayed (step power).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In such a conventional inspection method, various operation switches SW1 to SW I are operated according to a normal washing operation program.
Because you press 4, there are a large number of operation mode patterns, and the operation is complicated, making it easy to make mistakes.
Moreover, the inspection time is also long.

In addition, there were cases where the same switch was pressed many times in different operation modes and the same LED lamp was turned on many times, resulting in poor inspection efficiency.

Some control devices have a time-saving mode to shorten inspection time, but since there are still many operation modes, the time-saving effect has not been much achieved.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional example, and to provide a home appliance such as a washing machine that can light up a display element with a program different from the normal operation mode, thereby shortening the inspection time and improving the reliability of the inspection. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for inspecting a control section of a controller.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a display circuit using display elements such as dynamic light emitting diodes and liquid crystals configured with a matrix-nox circuit, and a control device for controlling the lighting of the display elements of this display circuit. In a control unit of a home appliance such as a washing machine, the display circuit is made to correspond to an input circuit using an operation key or the like used for normal operation of the device via the control device with a program different from that for normal operation. The gist of this method is to test the display elements of a matrix circuit by sequentially turning on and off the display elements of the matrix circuit diagonally in response to an input.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, in order to inspect a dynamic lighting display element configured with a matrix circuit, operation keys used during normal driving operations are made to correspond, but this correspondence is different from normal driving operations via a control device. Corresponding with the program, the light emitting diodes of the matrix circuit are sequentially turned on and off in diagonal lines by key input.

As a result, the light emitting diode is turned on and off only once for inspection, the number of operation modes is reduced, and the inspection time is shortened.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of a control device showing an embodiment of the method for inspecting the control unit of a home appliance such as a washing machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the same inspection operation, in which the method of the present invention is carried out. An example of such a home appliance is the agitation-type fully automatic tub-type washing machine already described with reference to FIG.

A control device that uses a microcomputer, etc. in its control section (
1) and control device (1) from the operation switch (6).
), the control device (1) operates the LED lamps (5a) (5b) to display the indicators and the motor (11).
) to work.

As shown in FIG.
), it is composed of a matrix circuit consisting of seven display element segments, and is illuminated dynamically.

FIG. 4 is a control circuit diagram, and the basic configuration is the same as that of the conventional example already explained with reference to FIG. 6, and the same reference numerals are given. Function switch SW for selecting
+s is provided as one of the operation switches (6), and a program for its function test is preset in the control device (1) separately from the normal washing operation program.

Next, a method for testing the function of the control device (1) using this test program will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1 and 2.

When performing a function test instead of a normal washing operation, first press the function SW (6), then turn on the power (stepta, stenpuyo).
, in this case, function SW+s (
If the power is turned on without pressing 6) (step 1.2), the function test program will not start,
Normal washing operation starts (step 3).

Next, apply Hz to the input side of the water level sensor (15) at 25, which is a state without water.
Sui Nochi SW++, SW+□ in the same state.

Do not press any of SWI 3 (Ste Nopso).

Step 5, 6.7), all 12 LED lamps 1
~ If 12 (5a) remains off (Steps,
Steps 5, 6, 7.8) Determine normal.

In this case, switches SW, I, sw, □, sw, + (
6 on and off, and LED lamps 1 to 12 (5, a
) is set in advance as shown in the table below.

0...SW OFF O...L
ED 0FF1...SW ON
l...LED ON, then switch SW,...
Only push Stesopne.

Step 5, 13.14) If only LED lamp 1 lights up (Stesopna, Step 15), it is judged as normal and only the switch SW1□ is pressed.Stesopr, Steps 5, 6.10) Only LED lamp 2.5 If it lights up (step 11), judge it to be normal and press switches SWI, SW, □ at the same time (step 5, 13, 17). , Step 18) Judging that it is normal, press only the switch SW I's (Step O,
Step 5.6.7) If the LED lamp 47.10 lights up (Step 9), it is judged as normal, and press the switches SWI and 5W13 at the same time (Step Ya, Step 5.13.14). If it lights up (Stesopuma, step 16), it is judged to be normal and switches SW1□ and SW are turned on.

Press at the same time (Stesopke, steps 5, 6゜10)
If only the LED lamp 12 lights up (step 12), the LED output and switch 5W11.5W
I2. It is determined that the input relationship of SW+ff is completely normal (stepco).

On the other hand, if the corresponding LED lamps 11 to 12 do not light up correctly when the switches SW, SW1□, and SW+s are pressed in various combinations as described above,
LED output or switch SW.

It is determined that there is an abnormality in SWIM and 5WI3, and an abnormality display is performed.

In this way, in the present invention, during normal operation, the switch 5W1 is used as an operation switch (6) for, for example, a course select switch, a water level change switch, etc.
By pressing 1, 5W12, 5WI3 in combination,
The 12 LED lamps 11 to 12 (5a) are turned on and off in sequence, and this LED lamp 11
~12 (5a) is lit after LED lamp 1 (5a) is lit, then only LED lamp 2.5 (5a) is lit, then ED clamp, only 6.9 (5a) is lit, then LE
Only the D lamps 4, 7, 10 (5a)° are turned on, and the diagonal lines of the Matri-Nox circuit are turned on.

Note that the method of the present invention is constructed using a matrix-nox circuit.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As mentioned above, the method for inspecting the control unit of home appliances such as washing machines according to the present invention requires only one turn on and off of light emitting diodes, especially when inspecting light emitting diodes. This allows the inspection time to be shortened.

In addition, the LED lamps, which are made up of a matrix circuit that is normally controlled on the compressor line, are turned on and off in diagonal lines. This makes it easy to detect when the light does not turn on, and it is possible to improve inspection precision and accuracy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of a control device showing an embodiment of the inspection method for the control unit of a home appliance such as a washing machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the same inspection operation, and FIG. An explanatory diagram of the matrix circuit to be formed, Fig. 4 is a control circuit diagram, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an agitation type washing machine, Fig. 6 is a conventional control circuit diagram, and Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing a conventional example of an inspection method. It is. (1)...Control device (2)...Oscillation circuit (3
)...Clock oscillation circuit (4)...Reset circuit (5
a)...LED (light emitting diode) lamp (5b)
...Light-emitting diode lamp for character display (6) ...Operation switch (7) ...Motor rotation detection circuit (8) ...Lid switch (9) ...AC clock circuit (10) -A C100V E-a (11) ・e
-tor (12)...water supply valve (13)...torque motor (14)...constant voltage power supply circuit (15)...
... Water level sensor (16) ... External component drive circuit (17) (18) ... RC circuit (20) ... Outer box (21) ... Lid (22) ... Operation panel (23) )...Washing/dehydration tank (24)...Agitation blade (25)...Drainage hose (26)...Power cord (27)...Ground wire

Claims (1)

[Claims] In the control section of home appliances such as washing machines, which includes a display circuit using display elements such as dynamic light-emitting diodes and liquid crystals for dynamic lighting configured with a matrix circuit, and a control device that controls the lighting of the display elements of this display circuit. The display circuit is made to correspond to the input circuit using operation keys, etc. used for normal operation of the equipment via the control device, using a program different from the normal operation, and the display elements of the matrix circuit can be moved diagonally in a diagonal line by key input. A method for inspecting a control unit of a home appliance such as a washing machine, characterized by inspecting a display element by sequentially turning on and off the light.