A drum-type washing machine and a control method thereof

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a drum washing machine and a control method thereof, relates to the related technical field of washing equipment, and is used for realizing customization of a door closing sound. The drum washing machine provided by the embodiment of the application comprises an outer drum, a door seal, an energy absorption cavity, an air charging pump, a pressure relief valve, a pressure sensor and a controller. The energy absorption cavity is connected with the door seal. The air charging pump is connected with the energy absorption cavity through a hose and an air charging hole reserved in the door seal, is used for increasing a pressure value in the energy absorption cavity, and the pressure relief valve is used for reducing the pressure value in the energy absorption cavity. The controller is configured to: in response to receiving a trigger instruction selected by a user, determining a pressure preset value according to a sound type corresponding to the trigger instruction; and controlling the air charging pump or the pressure relief valve to operate, so that the pressure value in the energy absorption cavity reaches the pressure preset value. The drum washing machine provided by the embodiment of the application can determine the pressure value in the energy absorption cavity according to the sound type selected by the user, and then make the door closing sound when the door is closed reach the sound effect customized by the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of washing equipment, and in particular to a drum washing machine and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] Front-loading washing machines have become the main type of washing machine in the international market due to their numerous advantages, such as low wear and tear, no tangling, ability to wash cashmere and silk fabrics, and large capacity. Front-loading washing machines are typically front-opening, and the door is usually made of glass for easy observation of the washing process. The door seal is a connecting component between the outer drum and the front panel of the machine; its most important function is waterproofing, and it also reduces the force transmitted to the front panel of the machine when the inner drum rotates.

[0003] When using a front-loading washing machine, users frequently open and close the door. At the moment the door closes, the door, driven by kinetic energy, presses against the door seal, causing the seal to elastically deform. This ensures the washing machine's airtightness and prevents leaks. However, the collision between the door and the door seal when closing produces a relatively sharp closing sound, and this sound is rather uniform and cannot meet the customized needs of different consumers.

[0004] Therefore, how to customize the sound effect when the door of a drum washing machine closes has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a drum washing machine and its control method for customizing the sound effect when the drum washing machine door is closed.

[0006] The first aspect of this application provides a drum washing machine, which includes: an outer drum, a door seal, an energy-absorbing chamber, an air pump, a pressure relief valve, a pressure sensor, and a controller; the door seal is disposed at the opening of the outer drum; the energy-absorbing chamber is connected to the door seal; the air pump is connected to the energy-absorbing chamber through a hose and an air inlet reserved in the door seal, for inflating the energy-absorbing chamber to increase the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber; the pressure relief valve is connected to the energy-absorbing chamber and to the controller, and is used to reduce the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber; the pressure sensor is disposed at the air inlet, for detecting the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber and sending the pressure value to the controller; the controller is connected to the air pump and the pressure sensor; the controller is configured to: in response to receiving a trigger command for sound selection, determine a corresponding preset pressure value according to the sound type corresponding to the trigger command; control the air pump or the pressure relief valve to operate so that the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber reaches the preset pressure value.

[0007] The drum washing machine provided in this application embodiment has an energy-absorbing chamber at the door seal, an air pump to increase the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber, a pressure relief valve to decrease the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber, and a pressure sensor to detect the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber. The pressure applied to the door seal by the door body at the moment of closing can be changed by altering the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber. Thus, after the user selects the sound type when closing the door, the controller can determine the preset pressure value that the energy-absorbing chamber needs to reach based on the user's selected sound type, and control the air pump or pressure relief valve to operate, so that the pressure value of the energy-absorbing chamber reaches the preset pressure value corresponding to the user's selected sound type. In this way, the collision sound generated by the door body colliding with the door seal at the moment of closing can achieve the user-customized sound effect, thereby improving the user experience of using the drum washing machine.

[0008] In conjunction with the first implementation of the first aspect, the steps of controlling the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve include: if the pressure value is less than the preset pressure value, controlling the air pump to operate to increase the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber; and in response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, controlling the air pump to stop operating.

[0009] In conjunction with the second implementation method of the first aspect, the steps of controlling the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve include: if the pressure value is greater than the preset pressure value, controlling the pressure relief valve to open to reduce the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber; and controlling the pressure relief valve to close in response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value.

[0010] In conjunction with the third implementation of the first aspect, after the step of controlling the air pump to stop running in response to the pressure value reaching the pressure preset value, the controller is further configured to: determine whether the pressure value is lower than the pressure preset value at preset intervals; if the pressure value is lower than the pressure preset value, control the air pump to start running to increase the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber; and control the air pump to stop running in response to the pressure value reaching the pressure preset value.

[0011] In conjunction with the fourth implementation method of the first aspect, the drum washing machine also includes: a voice device; after the step of controlling the air pump to stop running, the step of determining the corresponding pressure preset value according to the sound type includes: in response to the user's selection operation of the sound type, controlling the voice device to output the sound demonstration sound corresponding to the sound type, with each sound type corresponding to one sound demonstration sound; in response to the user's confirmation operation of confirming the sound type, determining the pressure value corresponding to the sound type to be the pressure preset value.

[0012] In conjunction with the fifth implementation of the first aspect, the drum washing machine also includes: a voice device; after the step of controlling the air pump to stop running, the controller is further configured to: control the voice device to output a prompt voice, the prompt voice being used to inform the user that the sound type setting has been completed.

[0013] In conjunction with the sixth implementation method of the first aspect, the drum washing machine also includes: a voice device; after the step of controlling the pressure relief valve to close, the controller is further configured to: control the voice device to output a prompt voice, the prompt voice being used to inform the user that the customization has been completed.

[0014] A second aspect of this application provides a control method for a drum washing machine, applicable to drum washing machines having an energy-absorbing chamber, an air pump, a pressure relief valve, and a pressure sensor; wherein, the energy-absorbing chamber is located at the door seal of the drum washing machine; the air pump is connected to the energy-absorbing chamber via a hose and an air inlet reserved in the door seal, for increasing the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber; the pressure relief valve is connected to the energy-absorbing chamber, for reducing the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber; the pressure sensor is located at the air inlet, for detecting the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber; the control method includes: responding to receiving a trigger command selected by a user, determining a preset pressure value based on the sound type corresponding to the trigger command; controlling the air pump or the pressure relief valve to operate so that the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber reaches the preset pressure value.

[0015] In conjunction with the first implementation of the second aspect, the steps of controlling the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve include: if the pressure value is less than the preset pressure value, controlling the air pump to operate to increase the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber; and in response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, controlling the air pump to stop operating.

[0016] In conjunction with the second implementation method of the second aspect, the steps for controlling the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve include: if the pressure value is greater than the preset pressure value, controlling the pressure relief valve to open to reduce the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber; and controlling the pressure relief valve to close in response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value.

[0017] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a controller, including: one or more processors; one or more memories; wherein the one or more memories are used to store computer program code, the computer program code including computer instructions, and when the one or more processors execute the computer instructions, the controller executes the control method provided in the second aspect and possible implementations.

[0018] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium including computer instructions that, when controlled on a computer, cause the computer to execute the control method provided in the second aspect and possible implementations.

[0019] Fifthly, embodiments of the present invention provide a computer program product that can be directly loaded into a memory and contains software code. After being loaded and executed by a computer, the computer program product can implement the control methods provided in the second aspect and possible implementations.

[0020] It should be noted that the aforementioned computer instructions may be stored, in whole or in part, on a computer-readable storage medium. This computer-readable storage medium may be packaged together with the controller's processor, or it may be packaged separately from the controller's processor; this application does not impose any limitations on this.

[0021] The beneficial effects described in aspects two through five of this application can be referred to the analysis of the beneficial effects of aspect one, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the technical solutions of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of this application to explain the technical solutions of the present invention and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a drum washing machine provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 2 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a door seal for a drum washing machine provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating the process of collecting the sound of a door closing, as provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 4 A time-domain spectrogram of a door closing sound provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 5 A simplified envelope diagram of the time-domain spectrum of a door closing sound provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 6 A simplified envelope diagram of the time-domain spectrum of another door closing sound provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 7 A simplified envelope diagram of the time-domain spectrum of another door closing sound provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 8 A comparative schematic diagram of an envelope provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 9 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a door seal with an energy-absorbing cavity provided for an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of another drum washing machine provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 11 A control flowchart of a controller for a drum washing machine provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 12 A detailed control flowchart of a controller for a drum washing machine provided in this application embodiment;

[0035] Figure 13 A detailed control flowchart of another controller for a drum washing machine provided in this application embodiment;

[0036] Figure 14 A control flowchart of another controller for a drum washing machine provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 15 A flowchart illustrating a method for determining sound type provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 16 A general flowchart of a control method for a drum washing machine provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 17 A flowchart illustrating a control method for a drum washing machine provided in this application embodiment;

[0040] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware architecture of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0042] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0043] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly, for example, as a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances. Furthermore, when describing pipelines, the terms "connected" and "linked" as used in this application have the meaning of establishing electrical connection. The specific meaning needs to be understood in conjunction with the context.

[0044] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design. Specifically, the use of the terms "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0045] For ease of description, unless otherwise specified, the directions of up, down, left, right, front, and back in this article are based on the state of the drum washing machine when it is in use. The front of the drum washing machine is the door, and the opposite direction is the back.

[0046] Please see Figure 1 The drum washing machine 100 provided in this application embodiment includes a cabinet 1, an outer drum 11, an inner drum 12, a door seal 13, a door 14, and a controller (not shown in the figure).

[0047] The cabinet 1 typically adopts a rectangular hollow structure. As the outer shell of the drum washing machine 100, the appearance shape of the cabinet 1 can be designed as needed.

[0048] The front wall of the box 1 is provided with a clothing loading port, and the clothing loading port of the box 1 is provided with a door 14, which can open and close the opening.

[0049] In some embodiments, the door 14 is connected to the box 1 by a hinge, so that the door 14 can rotate about the axis of the door hinge to open and close the door 14, thereby opening and closing the clothing loading port on the front side of the box 1.

[0050] The outer tub 11 is located inside the housing 1. The outer tub 11 is a shell structure with a nozzle, which is directly opposite the clothing loading port on the front side of the housing 1. The outer tub 11 is used to hold washing liquid, such as water.

[0051] The inner drum 12 is rotatably disposed inside the outer drum 11, and a washing chamber (not shown in the figure) is formed inside the inner drum 12 for holding clothes to be washed. The opening of the inner drum 12 is arranged opposite to the opening of the outer drum 11, that is, the front opening of the washing chamber is arranged opposite to the opening of the outer drum 11 and the clothes loading port. Therefore, clothes can enter the washing chamber sequentially from the clothes loading port of the housing 1, the opening of the outer drum 11, and the opening of the inner drum 12.

[0052] In some embodiments, the outer cylinder 11 and the inner cylinder 12 are arranged coaxially inside and outside. The outer wall of the inner cylinder 12 is provided with holes, through which water in the outer cylinder 11 can enter the inner cylinder 12 to wash the clothes in the inner cylinder 12.

[0053] In some embodiments, a drive device (not shown in the figure) is provided inside the housing 1. The drive device is located outside the outer cylinder 11, and the output end of the drive device extends into the interior of the outer cylinder 11 and is connected to the inner cylinder 12 for transmission, so as to drive the inner cylinder 12 to rotate relative to the outer cylinder 11, thereby washing the clothes in the inner cylinder 12.

[0054] The door seal 13 has a ring-shaped structure and is located between the clothing inlet of the cabinet 1 and the opening of the outer drum 11. Specifically, the door seal 13 can be made of an elastic sealing material. The peripheral edge of the front end of the door seal 13 is sealed to the peripheral edge of the clothing inlet of the cabinet 1, and the peripheral edge of the rear end of the door seal 13 is sealed to the edge of the opening of the outer drum 11, thereby sealing the gap between the clothing inlet of the cabinet 1 and the opening of the outer drum 11. Therefore, when the door 14 closes the clothing inlet at the front of the cabinet 1, the door seal 13 can prevent water from the washing chamber and the outer drum 11 from entering the cabinet 1, and the door 14 can prevent water from the washing chamber from overflowing from the clothing inlet of the cabinet 1.

[0055] In the embodiments shown in this application, a controller refers to a device that can generate operation control signals based on instruction opcodes and timing signals, instructing the drum washing machine 100 to execute control commands. Exemplarily, the controller can be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The controller can also be other devices with processing functions, such as circuits, devices, or software modules; this application does not impose any limitations on this.

[0056] In addition, the controller can be used to control the operation of various components inside the drum washing machine 100 so that each component of the drum washing machine 100 can perform its predetermined functions.

[0057] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 1 The hardware structure shown does not constitute a limitation on the drum washing machine in this application. The drum washing machine provided in this application may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0058] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a cross-sectional view of door seal 13. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 2To prevent water from overflowing from the door seal 13, the door seal 13 is usually made of an elastic sealing material. When the drum washing machine closes, the door body 14 needs to use considerable kinetic energy to press against the door seal 13, causing the door seal 13 to deform elastically and prevent water from overflowing from the clothes inlet of the cabinet 1. Therefore, when the drum washing machine closes, the collision between the door body 14 and the door seal 13 produces a relatively sharp closing sound, and the sound is rather uniform, failing to meet the customized needs of different consumers.

[0059] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of collecting door closing sound provided in an embodiment of this application. The sound receiving device 31 (such as a microphone) is placed 1 meter in front of the door 14 of the drum washing machine 100 and 1 meter above the ground to collect the time domain curve of the door closing sound emitted by the drum washing machine 100 at the moment of closing.

[0060] It's understandable that there's a positive correlation between the impact energy and the sound of a door closing; the greater the impact energy, the louder the sound. Since the sound of a door closing is related to factors such as sound pressure level (SPL), loudness, roughness, sharpness, and vibration, a multiple linear regression algorithm can be used to identify the main factors affecting the sound. Multiple linear regression uses the optimal combination of multiple independent variables to predict or estimate the dependent variable, which is more effective and realistic than using only a single independent variable.

[0061] In other words, the factors affecting the sound of a door closing include sound pressure level, loudness, harshness, sharpness, and jitter. Therefore, to determine the weight of each factor, a multiple linear regression algorithm is used to subjectively evaluate the collected door closing sounds. The formula used is shown below:

[0062] Subjective score = k1 * sound pressure level + k2 * loudness + k3 * roughness + k4 * sharpness + k5 * vibration + b

[0063] Where k1 is the weight of sound pressure level, k2 is the weight of loudness, k3 is the weight of roughness, k4 is the weight of sharpness, k5 is the weight of jitter, and b is a constant.

[0064] The existing data is substituted one by one into the formula above for solution. This is an iterative process. When the error (the value of the loss function) is within an acceptable range, convergence begins (the iteration stops). The calculation results are shown in Table 1.

[0065] Table 1. Weighting of various factors affecting door closing sound

[0066] A-weighted sound level Loudness Sharpness roughness jitter washing machine -0.85 -0.87 -0.1081 -0.5679 0.3072

[0067] A-weighted sound pressure level (A-level) refers to the sound pressure level measured using an A-weighted network, denoted by LA and measured in dB(A). The A-weighted network is designed to simulate the equal loudness curve of 40 phon, significantly attenuating low frequencies (which are less sensitive to human hearing) while slightly amplifying high frequencies. The noise level measured by the A-weighted network is close to human perception and is easy to measure; therefore, it is commonly used to evaluate environmental noise.

[0068] The calculation results show that loudness is the main factor affecting the sound of a door closing.

[0069] Please see Figure 4 Based on the time-domain curve of the door closing sound, plot the time-domain spectrum, then plot the envelope of the time-domain spectrum, simplifying it to... Figure 5 As shown, the area S1 covered by the obtained spectral envelope curve can represent the magnitude of the collision energy between the door and the door seal at the moment the drum washing machine closes.

[0070] Actual measurements revealed that the sound quality of the door closing is related to the amplitude of the spectral envelope. A higher amplitude results in a sharper closing sound and a correspondingly higher loudness in the psychoacoustic parameters; conversely, a lower amplitude results in a duller closing sound and a correspondingly lower loudness in the psychoacoustic parameters. Therefore, assuming the collision energy between the door and the door seal remains constant at the moment the washing machine door closes, the loudness of the closing sound can be reduced by decreasing the amplitude of the spectral envelope.

[0071] The spectral envelope of drum washing machines disclosed in related technologies is usually... Figure 5 To reduce the amplitude of the spectral envelope curve, which exhibits a "single-peak" shape, a feasible approach is to add damping material at the gate seal. Damping material is a material that dissipates the mechanical vibration energy of a solid by converting it into heat energy; it is primarily used for vibration and noise control.

[0072] Please see Figure 6 By adding damping material to the door seal, the spectral envelope of the collected door-closing sound is shaped like a semi-circle. It should be understood that... Figure 6 The area S2 covered by the spectral envelope curve in the curve, and Figure 5 The area S1 covered by the spectral envelope curve is equal. That is, when the door and the door seal are closed at the moment of closing of the drum washing machine, the collision energy remains unchanged. Adding damping material can reduce the amplitude of the spectral envelope curve to a certain extent, which means reducing the loudness of the closing sound.

[0073] Furthermore, the interior of the damping material can be transformed into a cavity, forming an energy-absorbing cavity structure, which can convert the collision energy between the door and the door seal into heat energy. Please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 7 By transforming the interior of the damping material into a cavity, forming an energy-absorbing cavity structure, the spectral envelope curve corresponding to the door closing sound collected exhibits a "double-peak" shape. Similarly, Figure 7 The area covered by the spectral envelope curve S3 is equal to that of S1 and S2. It can be seen that the use of the energy-absorbing cavity structure can significantly reduce the amplitude of the spectral envelope curve.

[0074] Please see Figure 8 By comparing the curves of the three spectral envelopes, according to the law of conservation of energy, when the collision energy remains unchanged when the door is closed, that is, when S1=S2=S3, it can be seen that the spectral envelope curve with the energy absorption cavity has the lowest amplitude, and thus the loudness of the door closing sound of the drum washing machine is the lowest.

[0075] Based on this, the washing machine provided in this application embodiment has an energy-absorbing chamber at the door seal 13. By using an air pump and a pressure relief valve to change the pressure value in the energy-absorbing chamber, the pressure applied to the door seal 13 at the moment of closing can be changed, thereby changing the closing sound of the drum washing machine at the moment of closing, and realizing the customization of the closing sound of the drum washing machine.

[0076] Please see Figure 9 , Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the door seal of a drum washing machine provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 9 As shown, the energy-absorbing chamber 15 is connected to the door seal 13. The energy-absorbing chamber 15 can be made of an elastic sealing material, forming an internal cavity. An air pump 16 is connected to the energy-absorbing chamber 15 via a hose 161 and an air inlet pre-drilled inlet in the door seal 13, for inflating the energy-absorbing chamber 15. A pressure relief valve (not shown) is connected to the energy-absorbing chamber 15 to reduce the pressure within the energy-absorbing chamber 15.

[0077] This allows the volume of gas in the energy-absorbing chamber 15 to be changed by the air pump 16 and the pressure relief valve, thereby changing the pressure applied to the door seal 13 by the door body 14 at the moment of closing and changing the closing sound generated by the collision.

[0078] Furthermore, to customize the door closing sound, a pressure sensor can be installed to detect the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber. Based on the user-selected sound type, a preset pressure value for the energy absorption chamber is determined, and the air pump or pressure relief valve is controlled to ensure the pressure in the energy absorption chamber reaches the preset value corresponding to the user-selected sound type. This way, the collision sound generated when the door closes against the door seal will achieve the user-customized sound effect, thereby enhancing the user experience of the drum washing machine.

[0079] In some embodiments, since the inside of the energy absorption cavity 15 is a cavity, in order to prevent the door body from squeezing the pressure sensor against the door seal when there is no gas in the energy absorption cavity 15, the pressure sensor can be arranged at the inflation hole reserved in the door seal 13.

[0080] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 10 , in order not to affect the appearance of the drum washing machine 100, the air pump 16 can be installed on the back of the front panel of the cabinet 1 in a way that does not require drilling holes.

[0081] It should be understood that the controller of the drum washing machine is connected to the air pump 16, the pressure relief valve and the pressure sensor. Referring to Figure 11 , the controller is configured to execute S1101 - S1102:

[0082] S1101. In response to receiving a trigger instruction selected by the user, determine a pressure preset value according to the sound type corresponding to the trigger instruction.

[0083] It should be noted that the corresponding relationship between the sound type and the pressure preset value is pre - stored in the drum washing machine. After receiving the trigger instruction selected by the user, the controller can determine the pressure preset value according to the sound type corresponding to the trigger instruction.

[0084] As a feasible implementation method, the sound types can be classified according to the sharpness of the sound as: sharp sound, soft sound, and low - pitched sound. As a feasible implementation method, the pressure preset value corresponding to the sharp sound is P1; the pressure preset value corresponding to the soft sound is P2; the pressure preset value corresponding to the low - pitched sound is P3. It is easy to understand that the higher the pressure value in the energy absorption cavity, the smaller the pressure exerted by the door body 14 on the door seal 13 at the moment of closing the door, and thus the lower the closing sound. Therefore, P1 < P2 < P3.

[0085] Furthermore, in order to allow the user to have more sound types to choose from, multiple levels of sound types can be set within each sound type. For example, as a feasible implementation method, under the sharp sound, the following can be set: sharp 1, with a corresponding pressure preset value of P11; sharp 2, with a corresponding pressure preset value of P12; sharp 3, with a corresponding pressure preset value of P13, and P11 < P12 < P13. Under the soft sound, the following can be set: soft 1, with a corresponding pressure preset value of P21; soft 2, with a corresponding pressure preset value of P22; soft 3, with a corresponding pressure preset value of P23; soft 4, with a corresponding pressure preset value of P24, and P21 < P22 < P23 < P24. Under the low - pitched sound, the following can be set: low - pitched 1, with a corresponding pressure preset value of P31; low - pitched 2, with a corresponding pressure preset value of P32; low - pitched 3, with a corresponding pressure preset value of P33, and P31 < P32 < P33.

[0086] This application embodiment is merely an exemplary introduction to three sound types. In actual applications, more sound types can be set according to needs, giving users more choices of sound types and thus bringing a better user experience.

[0087] It should be noted that the embodiments of this application do not limit the way the controller receives the sound type selected by the user. As a feasible implementation, the drum washing machine may include a control panel, on which the user can select the desired sound type. The controller can determine the preset pressure value corresponding to the sound type by receiving the sound type sent by the control panel.

[0088] As another feasible implementation method, the drum washing machine may include a communicator. The user can establish a connection with the drum washing machine's communicator through electronic devices, and then send the selected sound type to the controller through the communicator, so that the controller can determine the corresponding preset pressure value according to the sound type.

[0089] S1102. Control the operation of the air pump or pressure relief valve so that the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber reaches the preset pressure value.

[0090] Since the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber is uncertain, it may be necessary to increase or decrease the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber to reach the preset pressure value.

[0091] In some embodiments, the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber is lower than the preset pressure value, and it is necessary to increase the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber.

[0092] As one feasible approach, please refer to Figure 12 S1102 can be specifically implemented as follows:

[0093] S1201. If the pressure value is less than the preset pressure value, control the air pump to run in order to increase the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber.

[0094] The air pump is started to run, so that gas is injected into the energy absorption chamber 15 through the hose and the air inlet reserved in the door seal 13 in sequence, so that the volume of gas in the energy absorption chamber increases, that is, the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber increases.

[0095] S1202, In response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, control the air pump to stop running.

[0096] When the pressure inside the energy absorption chamber reaches the preset pressure value corresponding to the sound type selected by the user, it indicates that inflation is complete, and the inflation pump is stopped to stop inflating the energy absorption chamber.

[0097] In other embodiments, the preset pressure value corresponding to the sound type selected by the user may be lower than the current pressure value of the energy absorption chamber, that is, the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber needs to be reduced.

[0098] As one feasible approach, please refer to Figure 13 S1102 can be specifically implemented as follows:

[0099] S1301. If the pressure value is greater than the preset pressure value, control the pressure relief valve to open in order to reduce the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber.

[0100] The pressure relief valve is opened to release the gas in the energy absorption chamber, thereby reducing the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber.

[0101] S1302, In response to the pressure value being equal to the preset pressure value, the pressure relief valve is controlled to close.

[0102] When the pressure in the energy absorption chamber drops to the preset pressure value corresponding to the sound type selected by the user, it indicates that the pressure relief has been completed, and the pressure relief valve is closed to stop the gas discharge.

[0103] If the pressure in the energy absorption chamber is higher than the preset pressure value corresponding to the user-selected sound type, the pressure relief valve will open until the pressure in the energy absorption chamber drops to the preset pressure value, at which point the pressure relief valve will close. This allows for the reduction of pressure in the energy absorption chamber when it exceeds the preset pressure value, thus enabling customization of the door closing sound.

[0104] It should be understood that in some embodiments, the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber may be exactly equal to the preset pressure value, indicating that the current door closing sound is the sound type selected by the user. In this case, it is neither necessary to start the pressure relief valve nor to turn on the air pump.

[0105] The drum washing machine provided in this application embodiment has an energy-absorbing chamber at the door seal, an air pump to increase the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber, a pressure relief valve to decrease the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber, and a pressure sensor to detect the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber. The pressure applied to the door seal by the door body at the moment of closing can be changed by altering the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber. Thus, after the user selects the sound type when closing the door, the controller can determine the preset pressure value that the energy-absorbing chamber needs to reach based on the user's selected sound type, and control the air pump or pressure relief valve to operate, so that the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber reaches the preset pressure value corresponding to the user's selected sound type. In this way, the collision sound generated by the door body colliding with the door seal at the moment of closing can achieve the user-customized sound effect, thereby improving the user experience of using the drum washing machine.

[0106] In some embodiments, although the energy-absorbing chamber and the hose connecting the energy-absorbing chamber to the air pump have a sealed structure, prolonged use may still lead to gas leakage in the energy-absorbing chamber, resulting in insufficient pressure in the energy-absorbing chamber and a different closing sound than the sound type selected by the user.

[0107] As one feasible approach, please refer to Figure 14 After S1102, that is, after the door closing sound has been customized, the controller is also configured to execute S1401-S1404:

[0108] S1401 Receives the pressure value sent by the pressure sensor.

[0109] S1402. At preset intervals, determine whether the pressure value is lower than the preset pressure value.

[0110] It should be understood that the preset time is pre-set by the system. In actual application, the preset time can be set according to needs, and this application embodiment does not impose any limitations on it. For example, as a feasible implementation method, the preset time is one day, and the pressure value of the energy absorption chamber is obtained every other day.

[0111] If the pressure value is lower than the preset pressure value, it indicates that the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber needs to be increased, so execute S1403; if the pressure value is not lower than the preset pressure value, continue to execute S1401.

[0112] S1403. Control the air pump to start running and inflate the energy absorption chamber with air.

[0113] S1404. In response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, control the air pump to stop running.

[0114] At preset time intervals, the pressure value of the energy absorption chamber is obtained. If the pressure value is lower than the preset pressure value, it indicates that there is a gas leak in the energy absorption chamber, causing the pressure value to drop. Therefore, the air pump is controlled to inflate the energy absorption chamber until the pressure value reaches the preset pressure value. This can prevent gas leaks in the energy absorption chamber from causing the closing sound to differ from the sound type selected by the user.

[0115] It should be understood that after a long period of use, the gas in the energy absorption chamber will not increase, meaning the pressure value will not rise. Therefore, at each preset time interval, the pressure value will only be lower than or equal to the preset pressure value.

[0116] In some embodiments, to enhance the intelligence level of the drum washing machine, the drum washing machine may also include a voice device for prompting the user to complete relevant operations, such as prompting the user to add detergent or indicating that the washing is complete.

[0117] As one feasible implementation method, the drum washing machine provided in this application embodiment also includes: a voice device; please refer to Figure 15 S1101 can be specifically implemented as follows:

[0118] S11011, In response to the user's selection of a sound type, control the voice device to output a sample sound corresponding to the sound type.

[0119] It should be noted that the drum washing machine pre-stores the correspondence between sound types and sound sample sounds, with each sound type corresponding to one sound sample sound. After receiving the user's selection of a sound type, the controller can control the voice device to output the corresponding sound sample sound based on the selected sound type.

[0120] S11012. In response to the user's confirmation operation of confirming the sound type, determine that the pressure value corresponding to the sound type is the pressure preset value.

[0121] When the user confirms that the sound type will be used as the closing sound of the washing machine, the corresponding preset pressure value will be determined based on the sound type confirmed by the user.

[0122] Since users can only see the displayed sound type but are unaware of the corresponding door closing sound after selecting that sound type, a pre-stored demo sound of the selected sound type is played to provide feedback on the user experience.

[0123] In some embodiments, since it takes a certain amount of time for the air pump to inflate the energy absorption chamber, the user may close the door of the drum washing machine before the inflation is complete, which may cause the closing sound when the door hits the door seal to be different from the sound type selected by the user.

[0124] As a feasible implementation method, after controlling the air pump to stop running, the controller is also configured to: control the voice device to output a prompt voice, which is used to inform the user that the customization has been completed.

[0125] After the air pump stops running, the control voice device outputs a prompt voice to inform the user that the door closing sound customization has been completed, so as to avoid the user not knowing when the door closing sound customization is completed, thereby improving the user experience.

[0126] In other embodiments, the preset pressure value corresponding to the sound type selected by the user is higher than the pressure value of the energy absorption chamber, requiring the pressure relief valve to be opened to release the gas in the energy absorption chamber. Since releasing the gas in the energy absorption chamber takes a certain amount of time, the user may close the door of the drum washing machine before the inflation is complete, which may easily cause the closing sound when the door hits the door seal to be different from the sound type selected by the user.

[0127] As a feasible implementation method, after controlling the pressure relief valve to close, the controller is also configured to: control the voice device to output a prompt voice, which is used to inform the user that the customization has been completed.

[0128] After the pressure relief valve is closed, the control voice device outputs a prompt voice to inform the user that the door closing sound customization has been completed, so as to avoid the user not knowing when the door closing sound customization is completed, thereby improving the user experience.

[0129] Please see Figure 16 , Figure 16 This is a schematic flowchart of a control method for a drum washing machine provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0130] When the user selects to start sound customization, the front-loading washing machine's controller is configured to perform the following steps:

[0131] S1601, In response to the user's selection of a sound type, control the voice device to output a sample sound corresponding to the sound type.

[0132] S1602. In response to the user's confirmation of the sound type, determine the pressure value corresponding to the sound type as the pressure preset value.

[0133] S1603. Determine whether the pressure value is greater than the preset pressure value.

[0134] If yes, it indicates that a depressurization operation is required, and S16041 should be executed; if no, it indicates that a pressurization operation is required, and S16051 should be executed.

[0135] S16041, Control the opening of the pressure relief valve.

[0136] The pressure relief valve is opened to reduce the pressure in the energy absorption chamber, so that the pressure in the energy absorption chamber reaches the preset pressure value.

[0137] S16042, In response to the pressure value being equal to the preset pressure value, the pressure relief valve is controlled to close.

[0138] S16051, Control the air pump to start running.

[0139] The air pump is started to increase the pressure in the energy absorption chamber until it reaches the preset pressure value.

[0140] S16052. In response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, control the air pump to stop running.

[0141] S1606, Control the voice device to output prompt voice.

[0142] After the sound customization is completed, the control voice device outputs a prompt voice to remind the user that the door closing sound customization has been completed.

[0143] This application also provides a control method for a drum washing machine, applicable to drum washing machines having an energy-absorbing chamber, an air pump, a pressure relief valve, and a pressure sensor. The door seal is located at the opening of the outer drum; the energy-absorbing chamber is connected to the door seal; the air pump is connected to the energy-absorbing chamber via a hose and an air inlet pre-drilled inlet on the door seal, used to inflate the energy-absorbing chamber and increase the pressure value within it; the pressure relief valve is connected to the energy-absorbing chamber and to a controller, used to reduce the pressure value within the energy-absorbing chamber; the pressure sensor is located at the air inlet, used to detect the pressure value of the energy-absorbing chamber and send the pressure value to the controller; the controller is connected to the air pump and the pressure sensor.

[0144] Please see Figure 17 The control method provided in this application includes the following steps:

[0145] S1701. In response to receiving a trigger command selected by the user, determine the preset pressure value according to the sound type corresponding to the trigger command.

[0146] S1702. Control the operation of the air pump or pressure relief valve so that the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber reaches the preset pressure value.

[0147] The control method provided in this application allows the user to select a sound type when closing the door. Based on this selection, the system determines the preset pressure value required for the energy-absorbing chamber and controls the operation of the air pump or pressure relief valve to ensure the pressure in the energy-absorbing chamber reaches the preset pressure value corresponding to the selected sound type. This ensures that the collision sound generated when the door collides with the door seal at the moment of closing achieves the user-customized sound effect, thereby enhancing the user experience of the drum washing machine.

[0148] In some embodiments, the preset pressure value corresponding to the sound type selected by the user may be lower than the current pressure value of the energy absorption chamber, that is, it is necessary to reduce the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber.

[0149] Since the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber is uncertain, it may be necessary to increase or decrease the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber to reach the preset pressure value.

[0150] In some embodiments, the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber is lower than the preset pressure value, and it is necessary to increase the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber.

[0151] As a feasible implementation method, controlling the operation of the air pump or pressure relief valve can be specifically implemented as follows: if the pressure value is less than the preset pressure value, control the air pump to run; in response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, control the air pump to stop running.

[0152] The air pump is started, allowing gas to flow sequentially through the hose and the air inlet on the door seal 13 into the energy absorption chamber. This increases the volume of gas within the chamber, thus increasing the pressure. Once the pressure in the chamber reaches the preset pressure value corresponding to the user-selected sound type, inflation is complete. The air pump is then stopped, ceasing inflation into the energy absorption chamber.

[0153] In other embodiments, the preset pressure value corresponding to the sound type selected by the user may be lower than the current pressure value of the energy absorption chamber, that is, the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber needs to be reduced.

[0154] As a feasible implementation method, controlling the operation of the air pump or pressure relief valve can be specifically implemented as follows: if the pressure value is greater than the preset pressure value, control the pressure relief valve to open; in response to the pressure value being equal to the preset pressure value, control the pressure relief valve to close.

[0155] The pressure relief valve opens to release gas from the energy absorption chamber, reducing the pressure within it. Once the pressure in the energy absorption chamber drops to the preset pressure value corresponding to the user-selected sound type, the pressure relief is complete, and the pressure relief valve closes to stop gas release.

[0156] It should be understood that in some embodiments, the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber may be exactly equal to the preset pressure value, indicating that the current door closing sound is the sound type selected by the user. In this case, it is neither necessary to start the pressure relief valve nor to turn on the air pump.

[0157] As a feasible implementation method, after controlling the operation of the air pump or pressure relief valve, the control method also includes: acquiring the pressure value at preset time intervals; if the pressure value is lower than the preset pressure value, controlling the air pump to start running and inflating the energy absorption chamber.

[0158] At preset time intervals, the pressure value of the energy absorption chamber is obtained. If the pressure value is lower than the preset pressure value, it indicates that there is a gas leak in the energy absorption chamber, causing the pressure value to drop. Therefore, the air pump is controlled to inflate the energy absorption chamber until the pressure value reaches the preset pressure value. This can prevent gas leaks in the energy absorption chamber from causing the closing sound to differ from the sound type selected by the user.

[0159] As a feasible implementation method, the drum washing machine also includes a voice device. Then, the step of determining the pressure preset value according to the sound type corresponding to the trigger command may include: in response to the user selecting a sound type, controlling the voice device to output a sound demonstration sound corresponding to the sound type; in response to the user confirming the sound type, determining the pressure value corresponding to the sound type as the pressure preset value.

[0160] After receiving the user's selected sound type, the controller can control the voice device to output a sample sound corresponding to that sound type. When the user confirms that the selected sound type will be used as the washing machine door closing sound, the corresponding preset pressure value is determined based on the user's confirmed sound type.

[0161] Since users can only see the displayed sound type but are unaware of the corresponding door closing sound after selecting that sound type, a pre-stored demo sound of the selected sound type is played to provide feedback on the user experience.

[0162] In some embodiments, since it takes a certain amount of time for the air pump to inflate the energy absorption chamber, the user may close the door of the drum washing machine before the inflation is complete, which may cause the closing sound when the door hits the door seal to be different from the sound type selected by the user.

[0163] As a feasible implementation method, after controlling the air pump to stop operating, the control method also includes: controlling the voice device to output a prompt voice, which is used to inform the user that the customization has been completed.

[0164] After the air pump stops running, the control voice device outputs a prompt voice to inform the user that the door closing sound customization has been completed, so as to avoid the user not knowing when the door closing sound customization is completed, thereby improving the user experience.

[0165] In other embodiments, the preset pressure value corresponding to the sound type selected by the user is higher than the pressure value of the energy absorption chamber, requiring the pressure relief valve to be opened to release the gas in the energy absorption chamber. Since releasing the gas in the energy absorption chamber takes a certain amount of time, the user may close the door of the drum washing machine before the inflation is complete, which may easily cause the closing sound when the door hits the door seal to be different from the sound type selected by the user.

[0166] As a feasible implementation method, after controlling the pressure relief valve to close, the control method also includes: controlling the voice device to output a prompt voice, which is used to inform the user that the customization has been completed.

[0167] After the pressure relief valve is closed, the control voice device outputs a prompt voice to inform the user that the door closing sound customization has been completed, so as to avoid the user not knowing when the door closing sound customization is completed, thereby improving the user experience.

[0168] This application also provides an electronic device; please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 18The electronic device 180 includes: one or more processors 1801; one or more memories 1802, wherein the one or more memories 1802 are used to store computer program code, the computer program code including computer instructions; when the one or more processors 1801 execute the computer instructions, the electronic device 180 performs the various steps of the method shown in the above method embodiments.

[0169] Optionally, the memory 1802 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, and optical data storage device, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not impose any restrictions on this.

[0170] The processor 1801 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof, and the embodiments of this application do not impose any limitations on this.

[0171] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions that, when executed on an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform each step of the method flow shown in the above method embodiments.

[0172] This application also provides a computer program product, which includes computer instructions that, when executed on an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform each step of the method flow shown in the above method embodiments.

[0173] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software programs, implementation can be, in whole or in part, in the form of a computer program product. This computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When these computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the flow or function according to the embodiments of this application is generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a computer or a data storage device including one or more servers, data centers, etc., that can be integrated with the medium. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state disk (SSD)).

[0174] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A drum washing machine, characterized in that, The drum washing machine includes: an outer drum, a door seal, an energy-absorbing chamber, an air pump, a pressure relief valve, a pressure sensor, and a controller; The door seal is located at the opening of the outer cylinder; The energy-absorbing cavity is connected to the door seal; The air pump is connected to the energy absorption chamber via a hose and an air inlet reserved in the door seal, and is used to inflate the energy absorption chamber with air to increase the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber; The pressure relief valve is connected to the energy absorption chamber and the controller. The pressure relief valve is used to reduce the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber. The pressure sensor is located at the air inlet and is used to detect the pressure value of the energy absorption chamber and send the pressure value to the controller; The controller is connected to the air pump and the pressure sensor; The controller is configured to: In response to receiving a trigger command selected by the user, a preset pressure value is determined based on the sound type corresponding to the trigger command; Control the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve so that the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber reaches the preset pressure value.

2. The drum washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of controlling the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve includes: If the pressure value is less than the preset pressure value, control the air pump to operate in order to increase the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber; In response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, the air pump is controlled to stop operating.

3. The drum washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of controlling the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve includes: If the pressure value is greater than the preset pressure value, the pressure relief valve is opened to reduce the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber. In response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, the pressure relief valve is controlled to close.

4. The drum washing machine according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Following the step of controlling the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve, the controller is further configured to: At preset time intervals, determine whether the pressure value is lower than the preset pressure value; If the pressure value is lower than the preset pressure value, the air pump is controlled to start running to increase the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber; In response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, the air pump is controlled to stop operating.

5. The drum washing machine according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The drum washing machine further includes: a voice device; the step of determining the corresponding preset pressure value based on the sound type includes: In response to the user's selection of the sound type, the voice device is controlled to output a sample sound corresponding to the sound type, with each sound type corresponding to one sample sound. In response to the user's confirmation operation of the sound type, the pressure value corresponding to the sound type is determined to be a preset pressure value.

6. The drum washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drum washing machine further includes: a voice control device; after the step of controlling the air pump to stop operating, the controller is further configured to: The voice device is controlled to output a prompt voice, which is used to inform the user that the sound type setting has been completed.

7. The drum washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drum washing machine further includes: a voice control device; after the step of controlling the pressure relief valve to close, the controller is further configured to: The voice device is controlled to output a prompt voice, which is used to inform the user that the customization has been completed.

8. A control method for a drum washing machine, characterized in that, This invention is applicable to drum washing machines equipped with an energy-absorbing chamber, an air pump, a pressure relief valve, and a pressure sensor; wherein the energy-absorbing chamber is located at the door seal of the drum washing machine; the air pump is connected to the energy-absorbing chamber via a hose and an air inlet pre-reserved in the door seal, and is used to increase the pressure value inside the energy-absorbing chamber; The pressure relief valve is connected to the energy absorption chamber and is used to reduce the pressure value inside the energy absorption chamber; The pressure sensor is located at the air inlet and is used to detect the pressure value of the energy absorption chamber; The control method includes: In response to receiving a trigger command selected by the user, a preset pressure value is determined based on the sound type corresponding to the trigger command; Control the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve so that the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber reaches the preset pressure value.

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The step of controlling the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve includes: If the pressure value is less than the preset pressure value, control the air pump to operate in order to increase the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber; In response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, the air pump is controlled to stop operating.

10. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The step of controlling the operation of the air pump or the pressure relief valve includes: If the pressure value is greater than the preset pressure value, the pressure relief valve is opened to reduce the pressure value in the energy absorption chamber. In response to the pressure value reaching the preset pressure value, the pressure relief valve is controlled to close.

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