Control method of washing apparatus, washing apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a control method of a washing device, the washing device and a storage medium. The control method of the washing device comprises the following steps: detecting foam information in the washing device by a foam sensor in a washing stage of the washing device; and determining a washing strategy according to the foam information.

Description

Control methods for washing devices, washing devices and storage media Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of cleaning technology, specifically relating to a control method for a washing device, a washing device, and a storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards improve, their requirements and expectations for washing equipment are increasing. Taking washing machines as an example, from the washing process of a washing machine, laundry detergent contains a variety of effective ingredients. Among them, surfactants play a role in separating stains from clothing fibers and encapsulating the stains to form micelles that help them enter the water. Surfactants are the core effective ingredient of laundry detergents, and they are also the main component that forms foam during the washing process.

[0003] In existing technology, washing machines cannot adapt and adjust the washing strategy according to the actual situation. This may result in users visually perceiving the presence of foam when taking out clothes, leading them to believe that the clothes have not been rinsed clean, thus reducing the user experience. At the same time, users may waste water and electricity by restarting the rinsing mode or setting it to the maximum number of rinsing cycles. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a control method for a washing device, a washing device, and a storage medium to solve the problem that washing machines in the prior art cannot adaptively adjust the washing strategy according to actual conditions.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a control method for a washing device, the control method comprising the following steps:

[0006] During the washing stage of the washing device, foam information inside the washing device is detected by a foam sensor;

[0007] Based on the foam information, a washing strategy is determined.

[0008] Preferably, in the control method of the washing device, the step of determining the washing strategy based on the foam information includes:

[0009] If no foam is detected in a single rinse cycle, the system will control the process to add one or more rinse cycles, or to end the rinsing process.

[0010] When foam is detected in a single rinse cycle, the system will proceed to the next rinse cycle.

[0011] Preferably, in the control method of the washing device, before the step of determining the washing strategy based on the foam information, the control method further includes:

[0012] The water quality value of the current washing water is obtained through a stain index sensor;

[0013] Accordingly, the step of controlling one or more additional rinses or ending the rinsing process when no foam is detected in a single rinse cycle includes:

[0014] If no foam is detected in a single rinse cycle and the current water quality value is close to the water quality value when the water enters the system, then the current rinse cycle will be the last rinse cycle.

[0015] Preferably, in the control method of the washing device, the step of determining the washing strategy based on the foam information further includes:

[0016] When foam is detected during a single rinse cycle, a washing strategy is determined based on the type of foam.

[0017] Preferably, in the control method of the washing device, the step of determining a washing strategy based on the type of foam when foam is detected during a single rinse cycle includes:

[0018] When foam is detected during a single rinse cycle and it is non-rigid large foam, the washing device is controlled to remain still for a first preset time.

[0019] When foam is detected during a single-cycle rinse and it is fine and dense, water is sprayed during the static time of the drive motor to suppress the foam.

[0020] Preferably, in the control method of the washing device, after the step of detecting foam information in the washing device by a foam sensor during the washing stage of the washing device, and before the step of determining a washing strategy based on the foam information, the control method includes:

[0021] Based on the foam information, determine the detergent application strategy.

[0022] Preferably, in the control method of the washing device, the step of detecting foam information in the washing device by a foam sensor during the washing stage of the washing device specifically includes:

[0023] During the washing phase of the washing device, the foam information in the washing device is acquired in real time within the current cycle of the drive motor, wherein one cycle of the drive motor includes the period from the start of the drive motor rotation to the end of the current stopping process.

[0024] Accordingly, the step of determining the detergent dispensing strategy based on the foam information includes:

[0025] Determine whether a bubble signal is detected in the current period;

[0026] If the judgment result is negative, then control the amount of detergent to be dispensed to a preset volume.

[0027] If the judgment result is yes, then the detergent dispensing will be stopped.

[0028] Preferably, in the control method of the washing device, the washing device is provided with a plurality of reflective foam sensors located at different liquid levels;

[0029] Accordingly, the step of determining the detergent application strategy based on the foam information specifically includes:

[0030] When the foam sensor at the preset liquid level does not detect a foam signal, the preset volume of detergent is dispensed.

[0031] When the foam sensor at the preset liquid level detects a foam signal, the system stops dispensing detergent.

[0032] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a washing apparatus, the washing apparatus comprising:

[0033] At least one processor; and,

[0034] A memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein,

[0035] The memory stores instructions that can be executed by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the control method of the washing device as described above.

[0036] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, characterized in that, when the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the control method of the washing device as described above.

[0037] The technical solution provided by this invention has the following advantages:

[0038] The control method for the washing device provided by the present invention first detects the foam information in the washing device through a foam sensor during the washing stage; then, based on the foam information, a washing strategy is determined. This can avoid the situation where the user can see the presence of foam when taking out the clothes, leading the user to think that the clothes are not rinsed clean, which reduces the user's experience. At the same time, it can also avoid the situation where the user restarts the rinsing mode or directly sets the maximum number of rinsing cycles, which would waste water and electricity, thus improving the user experience.

[0039] Furthermore, by setting a detergent dispensing strategy, this invention can maximize washing effectiveness without wasting detergent, ensure the presence of foam during the washing process, and improve the user's washing experience. It also prevents problems such as overflowing foam and poor rinsing results caused by excessive initial detergent dispensing. Attached Figure Description

[0040] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0041] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the control method of the washing device of the present invention in a first embodiment;

[0042] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the control method of the washing device of the present invention in a second embodiment;

[0043] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the control method of the washing device of the present invention in the third embodiment;

[0044] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the control method of the washing device of the present invention in the fourth embodiment;

[0045] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the control method of the washing device of the present invention in the fifth embodiment;

[0046] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the washing device;

[0047] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a reflective foam sensor of the present invention in one embodiment;

[0048] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the reflective foam sensor in Figure 7;

[0049] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of foam detection data during the rinsing process.

[0050] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0051] In this embodiment of the invention, the term "and / or" describes the relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following associated objects have an "or" relationship.

[0052] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0053] In this embodiment of the invention, the term "multiple" refers to two or more, and other quantifiers are similar.

[0054] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that many technical details are presented in the embodiments of the present invention to facilitate a better understanding of the invention. However, the technical solutions claimed in the present invention can be implemented even without these technical details and various variations and modifications based on the following embodiments. The division of the following embodiments is for ease of description and should not constitute any limitation on the specific implementation of the present invention. The various embodiments can be combined with and referenced by each other without contradiction.

[0055] This embodiment relates to a control method for a washing device, applicable to washing devices such as washing machines, dishwashers, etc., which will not be listed here. Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the reflective foam sensor 1 includes an emitting light source 11 and a receiver 12. The receiver 12 is located on the same plane as the emitting light source 11 and is used to receive the reflected light of the detection light emitted by the emitting light source 11 after being reflected by the foam. The reflective foam sensor 1 is installed in the washing device.

[0056] It should be noted that the reflective foam sensor 1 can use the aforementioned receiver 12 to receive the reflected light waves to determine the presence of foam, or it can use the following structure for the reflective foam sensor 1:

[0057] The signal processing unit 13 is electrically connected to the receiver 12; wherein, the first preset distance is determined based on the fact that the receiver 12 can receive light waves emitted by a reflective surface at a second preset distance from directly above the first plane.

[0058] The reflective foam sensor 1 can be applied to, but is not limited to, washing machines. However, for ease of explanation, the following description will use the application of the reflective foam sensor 1 to a washing machine as an example.

[0059] The emitting light source 11 can be any narrow-wavelength or wide-wavelength light from ultraviolet to near-infrared, and the radiation angle of the light source is a stable wide-angle radiation. Taking the application of the reflective foam sensor 1 in a washing machine as an example, the emitting light source 11 can also be the washing machine's inner drum light or an ultraviolet germicidal lamp. The setting of the emitting light source 11 is not specifically limited here. It should be noted that when the emitting light source 11 is an external light source, such as the washing machine's inner drum light or an ultraviolet germicidal lamp, it can be considered that the reflective foam sensor 1 only includes the receiver 12 and the signal processing unit 13. In this way, the existing light source can be reused, reducing the cost of the reflective foam sensor 1.

[0060] The receiver 12 can be a full-wavelength responsive photoelectric conversion device (photoresistor / photodiode, etc.) used to convert the light waves reflected back from the large emitting light source 11 into electrical signals. The receiver 12 and the emitting light source 11 are disposed on the same plane and spaced apart by a first preset distance. The first preset distance is determined based on the intensity and radiation angle of the emitting light source 11. Typically, the receiver 12 is disposed within the circular area radiated by the emitting light source 11. The specific position of the receiver 12 can also be determined in the following ways:

[0061] Step S1: First, set the receiver 12 and the emitting light source 11 on the same horizontal plane;

[0062] Step S2: Place a reflector at a second preset distance directly above the horizontal plane, with the reflective surface of the reflector facing the receiver 12 and the emitting light source 11.

[0063] Step S2 can also involve placing a glass of a second preset distance thickness on the horizontal plane, and placing a reflector on the glass, with the reflective surface of the reflector facing the receiver 12 and the emitting light source 11.

[0064] Taking the reflective foam sensor 1 used in a washing machine as an example, the second preset distance is determined based on the glass door of the washing machine. Typically, the second preset distance is equal to the thickness of the glass door. In this embodiment, the second preset distance is 8mm-9mm. Preferably, the second preset distance is 8mm. When the receiver 12 can receive light waves emitted from a reflective surface at a distance of the second preset distance directly above the first plane, the maximum distance between the emitting light source 11 and the receiver 12 is Lmax, and the first preset distance < Lmax.

[0065] Step S3: Move the receiver 12 until the receiver 12 can receive the light waves reflected from the transmitting light source 11.

[0066] It should be understood that when the distance between the receiver 12 and the emitting light source 11 exceeds the maximum distance at which the emitted light waves can be received, the receiver 12 will be unable to receive the light waves reflected from the reflector. Therefore, the distance between the receiver 12 and the emitting light source 11 only needs to not exceed this maximum distance.

[0067] The signal processing unit 13 is electrically connected to the receiver 12 and is used to amplify and output the electrical signal converted by the receiver 12.

[0068] In actual operation, the presence or absence of foam can be detected by the reflective foam sensor 1.

[0069] (1) When only air exists on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, most of the light beam of the light source will propagate to a distance through the air without any reflected light. The light signal received by the receiver 12 is the side radiation light of the light source. The reading is relatively stable during the detection process and the intensity of the reflected light is very weak.

[0070] (2) When foam-free washing water is present on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, most of the light beam of the light source will propagate to a distance through the washing water. Only a small amount of turbid substances in the water will scatter a small amount of incident light. The light signal received by the receiver 12 is the sum of the side radiation light of the light source and the small amount of scattered light scattered towards the receiver 12. The reading is relatively stable during the detection process, and the intensity of the reflected light is slightly higher than that of the reflected light in the air medium.

[0071] (3) When large non-rigid foam exists on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, the light beam of the light source will be reflected by the foam surface film layer. The reflection angle is related to the shape of the foam. The light signal received by the receiver 12 is the sum of the light radiated from the side of the light source and the reflected light reflected from the foam surface towards the receiver 12. During the detection process, the reading value changes with the dissolution and displacement of the foam itself. The overall reading value is higher than that under the condition of no foam washing water medium.

[0072] (4) When tiny dense foam exists on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, most of the light beam from the light source will be reflected by the foam surface film. Due to the tiny density of the foam, its reflection position will be closer to the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, and the reflection direction will be more concentrated. The light signal received by the receiver 12 is the sum of the light radiated from the side of the light source and the reflected light reflected from the foam surface towards the receiver 12. The intensity of the reflected light will exceed the upper limit of the signal of the receiver 12. Due to the relative stability of the tiny foam, the reading value is full scale and remains stable.

[0073] The reflective foam sensor 1 specifically determines the presence and type of foam by comparing the ratio of the reflected light signal received by the receiver 12 to the signal emitted by the light source 11 with a set threshold. Specifically, multiple sets of known data can be used to fit the specific threshold. In other embodiments, the threshold can also be determined based on the power of the drive motor in the washing machine.

[0074] Additionally, it should be noted that when the reflective foam sensor 1 is applied to a washing machine, large foam refers to foam with a diameter of 3 cm or more; for small, dense foam, it can be any foam other than large foam, and no specific restrictions are made here.

[0075] Compared with traditional foam detection solutions (such as liquid level sensing solutions and dehydration braking solutions), the reflective foam sensor 1 provided by this invention can monitor foam in real time during the washing and rinsing process. This can accurately distinguish the presence or absence of foam, and the judgment effect matches the perception of human eyes.

[0076] Furthermore, the reflective foam sensor 1 provided by this invention provides more effective data for intelligent control of the washing process compared to traditional detection methods that can only detect whether there is severe foam overflow during the dehydration stage.

[0077] Furthermore, compared to other foam detection technologies such as image recognition and thermal radiation temperature distribution sensing technology, which can accurately analyze the distribution of foam inside the washing machine drum, this reflective foam sensor 1 achieves the distinction between the presence and absence of foam at a single location at a lower cost.

[0078] The implementation details of the control method of the washing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The following implementation details are provided for ease of understanding only and are not necessary for implementing this solution.

[0079] The specific process of this implementation method is shown in Figure 1, and includes:

[0080] Step S100: During the washing stage of the washing device, foam information inside the washing device is detected by a foam sensor.

[0081] It should be noted that the implementing body of this invention may be, but is not limited to, a washing device. A foam sensor is installed in the washing device, and the foam sensor may be, but is not limited to, the aforementioned reflective foam sensor 1. Since the reflective foam sensor 1 has significant advantages over other existing foam sensors, this invention preferably uses the aforementioned reflective foam sensor 1. For ease of explanation, the following description uses the reflective foam sensor 1 as an example and a washing machine as an example, but this does not mean that the foam sensor of this invention is limited to the reflective foam sensor 1, or that the washing device is limited to a washing machine.

[0082] The reflective foam sensor 1 exhibits a typical signal change trend in response to the presence or absence of foam and different types of foam. The presence or absence of foam can be distinguished by tracking the trend of the reflected light signal response within a first preset time period.

[0083] The reflective foam sensor 1 can visually detect the presence or absence of foam in the washing machine drum, thus providing guidance for judging the rinsing effect.

[0084] When the reflective foam sensor 1 is installed at the lower edge of the glass door of the washing device (the washing machine is used as an example below), when the washing water in the washing machine is at a low level and does not exceed the installation position of the reflective foam sensor 1, as long as foam is generated during the rinsing process, the foam moving with the water flow will flow along the glass door of the washing machine to the lower edge and stay there, thus being detected by the sensor.

[0085] When the washing machine is at a high liquid level above the installation position of the reflective foam sensor 1, as long as foam is generated during the rinsing process, the foam will be rolled to the lower edge of the washing machine glass door and detected during the rotation of the drive motor. Alternatively, foam detection can be performed after actively draining water at the end of the rinsing process to lower the liquid level.

[0086] It should be noted that when the liquid level in the washing device is parallel to or higher than the installation position of the reflective foam sensor 1, the liquid level is considered to be high; when the liquid level in the washing device is lower than the installation position of the reflective foam sensor 1, the liquid level is considered to be low.

[0087] Step S200: Determine the washing strategy based on the foam information.

[0088] It should be understood that by sensitively detecting the presence or absence of foam during the rinsing process, if no foam is detected throughout a single rinsing cycle, it can be determined that the laundry detergent for that cycle has been completely rinsed out, and the washing machine can assume that no further rinsing is needed and proceed directly to the final spin-drying process; if foam is detected during a single rinsing cycle, it can be determined that there is still laundry detergent residue in that cycle, and a next rinsing cycle is required.

[0089] Specifically, step S200 includes:

[0090] Step S210: If no foam is detected in a single rinse, control the process to add one or more rinses or end the rinse.

[0091] Step S220: When foam is detected in a single rinse cycle, control the system to proceed to the next rinse cycle.

[0092] As shown in Figure 2, in a second embodiment of the control method for the washing device provided by the present invention, before step S200, the control method further includes:

[0093] Step S300: Obtain the water quality value of the current washing water through the stain index sensor;

[0094] It should be noted that step S300 can be after step S100 and before step S200; it can also be before step S100, and no specific limitation is made here. The water quality value of the current washing water is detected by a stain index sensor. By detecting the water quality value of the current washing water, the degree of dirtiness of the current washing water can be determined, and the residual stain content and foam in the water can be tracked. In other embodiments, the degree of dirtiness of the water can also be determined by other methods, such as various indicators such as water transmittance, conductivity, and TOC.

[0095] Accordingly, step S210 includes:

[0096] Step S211: When no foam is detected in a single rinse and the water quality value of the current washing water is close to the water quality value when the water enters the system, the current rinse is controlled to be the last rinse.

[0097] It should be understood that when no foam is detected in a single rinse and the water quality values ​​of the current wash water are close to those of the incoming water, it is considered that there is little residual dirt and foam in the water. In this case, the current rinse is considered the final rinse. Otherwise, the rinsing process is repeated until the conditions are met. This determination not only aligns with customers' understanding of rinsing without any detergent residue but also ensures that clothes are free of stains, thus improving the final rinsing effect.

[0098] Additionally, if the current wash water quality value is close to the incoming water quality value, this can be determined by checking if the absolute value of the difference between the current wash water quality value and the incoming water quality value is less than or equal to a set threshold. This threshold can be user-defined, a system factory setting, or configured according to different needs.

[0099] As shown in Figure 3, in the third embodiment of the control method for the washing device provided by the present invention, step S200 further includes:

[0100] Step S230: When foam is detected during a single rinse cycle, a washing strategy is determined based on the type of foam.

[0101] It should be understood that distinguishing the types of foam generated inside the washing machine makes it easier to determine the washing strategy more accurately.

[0102] More specifically, step S230 includes:

[0103] Step S231: When foam is detected in a single rinse cycle and it is non-rigid large foam, the washing device is controlled to remain still for a first preset time.

[0104] It should be understood that for non-rigid large foams, which are more likely to decompose on their own, the water can be left to stand for a period of time at the end of the current rinse cycle to allow the foam to dissipate on its own before draining the water, so that the foam can be discharged out of the washing machine with the water flow as much as possible.

[0105] When a large, non-rigid foam exists on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, the light beam from the light source will be reflected by the foam surface film. The reflection angle is related to the shape of the foam. The light signal received by the receiver 12 is the sum of the light radiated from the side of the light source and the reflected light reflected from the foam surface towards the receiver 12. During the detection process, the reading changes with the dissipation and displacement of the foam itself. That is, the first ratio initially decreases with the dissipation and displacement of the foam. The first ratio is the ratio of the reflected light signal to the light signal of the probe light within a second preset time period.

[0106] Therefore, when the first ratio is greater than or equal to the second threshold and less than the third threshold, foam is considered to be detected and is a non-rigid large foam. The second threshold is 30%-40%, and the third threshold is 70%-80%. Preferably, when the first ratio is between 45% and 70%, the existing foam is considered to be a non-rigid large foam.

[0107] Step S232: When foam is detected in the single-cycle rinsing and it is fine and dense foam, water is sprayed during the static time of the drive motor to suppress the foam.

[0108] It should be understood that for fine and dense foam, fresh tap water can be introduced through the spray arm during the motor's resting time at the end of this rinsing cycle to suppress the foam, and the drain pump can perform intermittent drainage operation to break down and discharge the foam as much as possible.

[0109] In addition, when fine, dense foam exists on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, most of the light beam from the light source will be reflected by the foam surface film. Due to the small and dense nature of the foam, its reflection position will be closer to the sensor surface, and the reflection direction will be more concentrated. The light signal received by the receiver 12 is the sum of the light radiated from the side of the light source and the reflected light reflected from the foam surface towards the receiver 12. The intensity of the reflected light will exceed the upper limit of the signal of the receiver 12. Due to the relative stability of the fine, dense foam, the reading value is full scale and remains stable.

[0110] Therefore, when the first ratio is greater than or equal to the third threshold and can be less than the fourth threshold, the foam present on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1 is determined to be fine and dense foam. Preferably, the determination condition for the foam present on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1 to be fine and dense foam can be limited to: when the first ratio is between 95% and 100%, the foam currently present is considered to be fine and dense foam.

[0111] Taking the reflective foam sensor 1 installed on the lower edge of the glass door as an example, several signal points can be collected within one cycle of the drive motor's rotation inside the washing device. The first signal value can be calculated by subtracting the average signal / median signal / average signal after removing outliers from these signal points. If the absolute value of the first signal value is higher than 35.6%, foam is considered to be present. Further analysis is performed to determine if the absolute value of the first signal value is higher than 69.8%. If so, the foam is considered to be non-rigid, large, and easily broken; otherwise, it is considered to be fine, dense foam.

[0112] For example:

[0113] Figure 9 illustrates foam detection data during a single rinse cycle. During the rinse cycle after each water intake, the washing machine's drive motor rotates, causing the clothes and rinse water to mix and tumble, generating foam. This foam is detected by the reflective foam sensor 1, indicating its presence. As the number of rinses increases, the laundry detergent is diluted and discharged from the washing machine through water intake, rinsing, and spin-drying. During the second rinse, the foam signal detected by the reflective foam sensor 1 weakens but is still present. During the third rinse, the signal detected by the reflective foam sensor 1 shows no typical foam signal, indicating that there is no foam left in the washing machine during the third rinse. It can be determined that the laundry detergent has been rinsed away, and this is the final rinse cycle. Compared to the traditional two-cycle rinse, the method of determining the number of rinses based on the real-time detection of foam by the foam sensor better meets the user's needs for a washing machine, namely, thoroughly removing laundry detergent residue and ensuring that no foam is visible to the naked eye when removing clothes.

[0114] As shown in Figure 4, in the fourth embodiment of the control method for the washing device provided by the present invention, after step S100 and before step S200, the control method includes:

[0115] Step S400: Determine the detergent dispensing strategy based on the foam information.

[0116] It should be understood that by periodically sensing the foam generation during the main wash, the initial amount of laundry detergent can be appropriately reduced, and the amount of laundry detergent can be replenished in real time based on the foam generation during the washing process.

[0117] The main wash cycle of a washing machine can be divided into several cycles, each of which may contain several motor rotation and stop cycles. The motor's rotation speed and frequency may or may not change between cycles. Initially, a small amount of laundry detergent is added to the washing machine. During the first cycle, a foam sensor continuously records signal data. If no foam signal is detected in a single cycle, the laundry detergent needs to be added again, and the next wash cycle begins, while foam monitoring continues. This cycle repeats until a signal indicating the presence of foam is detected in a certain cycle. At this point, the laundry detergent addition stops, and the washing program continues until the end.

[0118] The mainstream methods for dispensing laundry detergent in existing drum washing machines are mainly divided into manual dispensing by the user and automatic dispensing based on the weight of the load. Both methods have some discrepancies with the actual amount of detergent needed, leading to risks of insufficient dispensing resulting in poor cleaning, and excessive dispensing causing detergent residue and overflow that could damage the washing machine. Building upon these mainstream methods, some washing machines have introduced the concept of supplementary detergent dispensing. This involves adding detergent during the initial dispensing phase and automatically refilling the detergent during operation by detecting water replenishment. This method compensates for the problem of the initial detergent concentration being diluted due to the actual water consumption exceeding the expected water consumption caused by the absorbency of clothing. However, these methods still do not consider the consumption of detergent during the washing process, thus failing to ensure that the amount of detergent dispensed is appropriate and matches the required amount for washing clothes. From a user experience perspective, the appropriateness of laundry detergent dosage is not readily perceptible, which can lead to user distrust of the washing process. Users might even resort to restarting the washing machine for a second wash to alleviate this distrust, wasting water, electricity, and effort. This invention addresses these issues by monitoring foam generation during the washing process in real-time and guiding the replenishment of laundry detergent accordingly. Specifically, it includes:

[0119] At the initial stage of the washing process, the initial dosage of laundry detergent can be determined based on the fabric load and weight information. Note that this initial dosage should be the minimum dosage for that type of fabric load and weight; that is, the amount of laundry detergent consumed when the fabric load is very clean at this weight. Of course, the amount added each time can also be a fixed value, which can be determined by (upper limit of laundry detergent dosage - minimum dosage of laundry detergent) / number of cycles for that type of fabric load and weight.

[0120] More specifically, step S100 includes:

[0121] Step S110: During the washing phase of the washing device, the foam information in the washing device within the current cycle of the drive motor is acquired in real time, wherein one cycle of the drive motor includes the period from the start of the drive motor rotation to the end of the current stop process.

[0122] Accordingly, step S400 includes:

[0123] Step S410: Determine whether a bubble signal is detected in the current cycle;

[0124] Step S420: If the judgment result is negative, control the addition of a preset volume of detergent;

[0125] It should be understood that a maximum dosage limit can also be set according to needs, where the cumulative volume of detergent dispensed is less than or equal to the maximum dosage limit. The maximum dosage limit can be determined based on the current fabric load and weight information. This limit can be a factory setting or a user-defined setting; no specific restrictions are placed here. The preset volume for each dosage can be set using the aforementioned fixed values.

[0126] In step S430, if the judgment result is yes, control to stop adding detergent.

[0127] As shown in Figure 5, in the fifth embodiment of the control method for the washing device provided by the present invention, the washing device is provided with a plurality of reflective foam sensors 1 located at different liquid levels; correspondingly, step S400 specifically includes:

[0128] Step S440: When the foam sensor at the preset liquid level does not detect a foam signal, control the addition of a preset volume of detergent.

[0129] Step S450: When the foam sensor at the preset liquid level detects a foam signal, the detergent dispensing is stopped.

[0130] It should be understood that since different materials produce different amounts of foam during the washing process, different foam levels can be set for different washing modes. Multiple sensors are installed to detect the foam level and replenish the foam to the set level according to the above logic, thereby further ensuring the washing efficiency of each washing mode.

[0131] Therefore, before step S440, the correspondence between the load on different materials and the preset liquid level is also included. Washing machines usually have many modes, such as cotton and linen, mixed, and fiber, etc., and the preset liquid level can also be determined based on the washing mode selected by the user.

[0132] This invention, by setting a detergent dispensing strategy, can maximize washing effectiveness without wasting detergent, ensure the presence of foam during the washing process, and improve the user's washing experience. It also prevents problems such as overflowing foam and poor rinsing due to excessive initial detergent dosage.

[0133] For example:

[0134] When clothes are heavily soiled, no laundry detergent is initially added. During the wash cycle, 10mL of laundry detergent is added first. The foam generation status is determined using a reflective foam sensor 1, with a 5-minute interval. If no foam occurs within this interval, another 10mL of laundry detergent is added, and the process is repeated until the fourth addition of 10mL. At this point, the reflective foam sensor 1 detects typical foam levels at low liquid levels, indicating that the required amount of laundry detergent has been added. For heavily soiled clothes, this method of adding laundry detergent provides a more reliable washing effect than the initial default addition of 20mL based on weight.

[0135] With clothes relatively clean, no laundry detergent was initially added. During the wash cycle, 10mL of laundry detergent was added first, and the cycle was repeated every 5 minutes. In the first cycle, the foam sensor detected typical foam levels at low liquid levels, indicating that the required amount of laundry detergent had been added. For washing clothes that are relatively clean, this method of adding laundry detergent is 10mL less than the initial default of 20mL based on weight, while still ensuring washing effectiveness. This not only saves on unnecessary overdosing based on washing needs and prevents the possibility of overflowing foam in the washing machine, but also results in less detergent residue during the rinsing process, making it easier to eliminate foam.

[0136] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention also provides a washing device, as shown in FIG6, which includes at least one processor 501 and a memory 502 communicatively connected to the at least one processor 501; wherein the memory 502 stores instructions executable by the at least one processor 501, which are executed by the at least one processor 501 to enable the at least one processor 501 to perform the control method of the washing device described above.

[0137] The memory 502 and processor 501 are connected via a bus, which can include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges. The bus connects various circuits of one or more processors 501 and memory 502 together. The bus can also connect various other circuits, such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art and therefore will not be described further herein. A bus interface provides an interface between the bus and the transceiver. The transceiver can be a single element or multiple elements, such as multiple receivers and transmitters, providing a unit for communicating with various other devices over a transmission medium. Data processed by processor 501 is transmitted over a wireless medium via an antenna, which further receives data and transmits it to processor 501.

[0138] Processor 501 is responsible for managing the bus and general processing, and can also provide various functions, including timing, peripheral interfaces, voltage regulation, power management, and other control functions. Memory 502 can be used to store data used by processor 501 during operation.

[0139] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the control method of the washing device described above.

[0140] That is, those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps in the methods described above can be implemented by a program instructing related hardware. This program is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a device (which may be a microcontroller, chip, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0141] Obviously, the embodiments described above are merely some, not all, embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications without creative effort, and all such variations or modifications should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for a washing device, characterized in that, The steps include: during the washing stage of the washing device, detecting foam information inside the washing device using a reflective foam sensor; Based on the foam information, a washing strategy is determined. This step further includes: when foam is detected during a single rinse cycle and is non-rigid large foam, the machine can be left to stand for a period of time at the end of the rinse cycle to allow the foam to dissipate naturally before draining, thus dissipating the foam as much as possible and flushing it out of the washing machine; when foam is detected during a single rinse cycle and is fine and dense foam, fresh tap water can be introduced through the spray arm during the motor's resting time at the end of the rinse cycle to suppress the foam, and the drain pump can perform intermittent draining operations to break down and discharge the foam as much as possible.

2. The control method for the washing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining the washing strategy based on the foam information includes: if no foam is detected in a single rinse cycle, controlling to add one or more rinse cycles or to end the rinse cycle; if foam is detected in a single rinse cycle, controlling to enter the next rinse cycle.

3. The control method for the washing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Before the step of determining the washing strategy based on the foam information, the control method further includes: obtaining the water quality value of the current washing water through a stain index sensor; correspondingly, the step of controlling to add one or more rinses or end the rinsing when no foam is detected in a single rinse includes: when no foam is detected in a single rinse and the water quality value of the current washing water is close to the water quality value when the water enters the system, controlling the current rinse to be the last rinse.

4. The control method for the washing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After the step of detecting foam information in the washing device by a foam sensor during the washing stage of the washing device, and before the step of determining the washing strategy based on the foam information, the control method includes: determining the detergent dispensing strategy based on the foam information.

5. The control method for the washing device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The step of detecting foam information in the washing device by a foam sensor during the washing stage of the washing device is specifically as follows: during the washing stage of the washing device, the foam information in the washing device within the current cycle of the drive motor is acquired in real time, wherein one cycle of the drive motor includes the period from the start of the drive motor rotation to the end of the current stop process. Accordingly, the step of determining the detergent dispensing strategy based on the foam information includes: determining whether a foam signal is detected in the current cycle; if the determination result is no, controlling the dispensing of a preset volume of detergent; if the determination result is yes, controlling the dispensing of detergent to stop.

6. The control method for the washing device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The washing device is equipped with multiple reflective foam sensors located at different liquid levels; correspondingly, the step of determining the detergent dispensing strategy based on the foam information specifically involves: when the foam sensor located at a preset liquid level does not detect a foam signal, controlling the dispensing of a preset volume of detergent; when the foam sensor located at a preset liquid level detects a foam signal, controlling the dispensing of detergent to stop.

7. A washing device, characterized in that, include: At least one processor; And a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the control method of the washing apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the control method of the washing apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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