REMOTE CONTROL METHOD FOR WASHING MACHINE

• US 20210131010A1
• Filed: 02/09/2018
• Published: 05/06/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qingdao Haier Drum Washing Machine Co., Ltd. (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Qingdao Haier Drum Washing Machine Co., Ltd. (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: XU, Sheng, HUANG, Zhenxing, LI, Wenwei, WU, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 11,149,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/32 Control of operational steps, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending on the condition of the laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/05 for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/20 Parameters relating to constructional components, e.g. door sensors
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/32 characterised by graphical features, e.g. touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/42 Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

A remote control method for a washing machine, includes the following steps: between a mobile terminal and the washing machine, a control channel configured to transmit a control instruction and a status feedback channel configured to transmit a working status of the washing machine are established; whether the washing machine is triggered is detected; and if yes, the control channel is cut off, and the status feedback channel is maintained; and if not, the control channel and the status feedback channel are maintained. After a triggering operation is directly performed on the washing machine, the control channel is cut off, that is, remote control of the mobile terminal is cut off, and only a user near the washing machine controls and operates the washing machine, which ensures the running safety of the washing machine.

Claims

1. A remote control method for a washing machine, wherein the washing machine is in wireless connection with a mobile terminal, and the remote control method comprises the following steps:

establishing, between the mobile terminal and the washing machine, a control channel used to transmit a control instruction and a status feedback channel used to transmit a working status of the washing machine;

detecting whether the washing machine being triggered, if yes, cutting off the control channel, and keeping the status feedback channel open; and

if not, keeping the control channel and the status feedback channel open.

2. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 1, wherein:

triggering the washing machine includes triggering one or more than one kind of keys selected from a group consisting status information of an activation key disposed on the washing machine that is configured to authorize the mobile terminal to send a control instruction to the washing machine, a function key disposed on the washing machine, or a door lock of the washing machine.

3. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the remote control method includes the following steps;

S201;

establishing a control channel and a status feedback channel that are between the mobile terminal and the washing machine;

S202;

detecting whether the activation key and/or a function key of the washing machine are/is triggered; and

if the activation key and/or the function key are/is triggered, cutting off the control channel, and keeping the status feedback channel open; and

if the activation key and/or the function key are/is not triggered, performing a next step;

S203;

detecting whether the door lock of the washing machine is unlocked; and

if the door lock is unlocked, cutting off the control channel, and keeping the status feedback channel open; and

if the door lock is locked, keeping the control channel and the status feedback channel open, and then performing S202.

4. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 3, wherein:

the step S201 of establishing the control channel and the status feedback channel between the mobile terminal and the washing machine includes following steps;

S211;

initiating an APP on the mobile terminal, and establishing the status feedback channel;

S212;

sending a control request to the washing machine by the mobile terminal;

S213;

determining whether the activation key being activated; and

if the activation key is activated, performing a next step; and

if activation key is not activated, indicating that remote control authorization fails.

5. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 3, comprising a step AAA) between step S202 and step S203:

detecting whether a cloth washing program of the washing machine ends; and

if the cloth washing program is ended, performing a next step; and

if the cloth washing program is not ended, continuing executing the cloth washing program, and then performing S203;

or

the remote control method comprising a step AAA′

) after it is detected in step S203 that a door lock of a door body of the washing machine is unlocked;

detecting whether the cloth washing program of the washing machine ends; and

if the cloth washing program is ended, performing a next step; and

if the cloth washing program is not ended, continuing executing the cloth washing program, and then performing S202.

6. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 5 comprising a step BBB) after the cloth washing program of the washing machine ends:

starting to time; and

determining whether the mobile terminal sending a control instruction to the washing machine within a specified time;

if the mobile terminal doesn'"'"'t send the control instruction to the washing machine within the specified time, cutting off the control channel, and keeping the status feedback channel open; and

if the mobile terminal sends the control instruction to the washing machine within the specified time, performing S203.

7. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 6 comprising a step CCC) after it is detected in step S202 that the function key of the washing machine is triggered:

obtaining the control instruction sent by the function key;

determining whether the control instruction is a stop instruction or a stop drying instruction; and

if the control instruction is the stop instruction or the stop drying instruction, performing a next step; and

if the control instruction is not the stop instruction or the stop drying instruction, cutting off the control channel between the mobile terminal and the washing machine, and keeping the status feedback channel open.

8. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 7 comprising a step DDD) after it is determined in step CCC) that the control instruction is the stop instruction or the stop drying instruction:

detecting whether the washing machine is in a drying phase; and

if the washing machine is in the drying phase, performing a next step; and

if the washing machine is not in the drying phase, cutting off the control channel, keeping the status feedback channel open, and then executing the control instruction.

9. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 7 comprising a step EEE) after it is detected in step DDD) that the washing machine is in the drying phase:

detecting whether a temperature of the washing machine exceeds a preset temperature; and

if the temperature exceeds the preset temperature, locking the door lock, and performing a temperature reduction phase, executing the control instruction after the temperature in the washing machine decreases to the specified temperature, then cutting off the control channel, and keeping the status feedback channel is open; and

if the temperature doesn'"'"'t exceed the preset temperature, cutting off the control channel, and keeping the status feedback channel.

10. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 1, wherein:

after the control channel is cut off in step S202 and/or step S203, establishing the control channel between the mobile terminal and the washing machine again is not allowed.

11. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 2, wherein:

the remote control method includes the following steps;

S201;

establishing a control channel and a status feedback channel that are between the mobile terminal and the washing machine;

S202;

detecting whether the activation key and/or a function key of the washing machine are/is triggered; and

if the activation key and/or the function key are/is triggered, cutting off the control channel, and keeping the status feedback channel open; and

if the activation key and/or the function key are/is not triggered, performing a next step;

S203;

detecting whether the door lock of the washing machine is unlocked; and

if the door lock is unlock, cutting off the control channel, and keeping the status feedback channel open; and

if the door lock is locked, keeping the control channel and the status feedback channel open, and then performing S202.

12. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 3, comprising a step AAA) between step S202 and step S203:

detecting whether a cloth washing program of the washing machine ends; and

if the cloth washing program is ended, performing a next step; and

if the cloth washing program is not ended, continuing executing the cloth washing program, and then performing S203;

or

the remote control method comprising a step AAA′

) after it is detected in step S203 that a door lock of a door body of the washing machine is unlocked;

detecting whether the cloth washing program of the washing machine ends; and

if the cloth washing program is ended, performing a next step; and

if the cloth washing program is not ended, continuing executing the cloth washing program, and then performing S202.

13. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 9, wherein:

a range of the preset temperature is 40°

C. to 70°

C.

14. The remote control method for the washing machine according to claim 2, wherein:

after the control channel is cut off in step S202 and/or step S203, establishing the control channel between the mobile terminal and the washing machine again is not allowed.