Washing machine control method, control device and washing machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control method, a control device, and a washing machine. The washing stages of the washing machine include a first washing stage and a second washing stage that are executed sequentially. The control method includes: obtaining clothing information, determining washing parameter information based on the clothing information, the washing parameter information including a first water inflow of first-type washing water, a second water inflow of second-type washing water, and a target heating temperature for the first washing stage; executing the first washing stage, controlling the first-type washing water to flow in to the first water inflow in the first washing stage, and washing the clothing for a first set time after heating the first-type washing water to the target heating temperature; executing the second washing stage, controlling the second-type washing water to flow in to the second water inflow in the second washing stage, and washing the clothing for a second set time; the first-type washing water contains soft water, and the second-type washing water does not contain soft water. The present invention can effectively reduce the deposition of calcium, magnesium, and other ions on electric heating tubes, thereby extending the service life of the electric heating tubes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of washing machines, and in particular to a control method and a control device for a washing machine, and a washing machine. Background Art

[0002] In the related art, electric heating tubes are generally used to heat washing water, and users generally use tap water to wash clothes. Tap water contains more calcium and magnesium ions. During the heating process of tap water, scale precipitation is easily generated and attached to the electric heating tubes. Long-term scale accumulation will affect the service life of the electric heating tubes. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To overcome the problem in the related art that heating tap water causes scale deposition on electric heating tubes, thereby shortening the service life of the electric heating tubes, the present invention proposes a control method for a washing machine, wherein the washing stage of the washing machine includes a first washing stage and a second washing stage that are performed sequentially. The control method includes:

[0004] Acquiring clothing information, and determining washing parameter information of the washing machine based on the clothing information, the washing parameter information including a first water inflow volume of the first type of washing water, a second water inflow volume of the second type of washing water, and a target heating temperature for the first washing stage;

[0005] executing a first washing stage, controlling the inflow of first type washing water to the first water inflow volume in the first washing stage, and washing the clothes for a first set time after heating the first type washing water to the target heating temperature;

[0006] executing a second washing stage, in which the second type of washing water is controlled to flow into the second water inlet volume and then the clothes are washed for a second set time period;

[0007] The first type of wash water contains soft water, and the second type of wash water does not contain soft water.

[0008] In some embodiments, the clothing information includes clothing material information and clothing weight information.

[0009] In some embodiments, determining washing parameter information of a washing machine according to the clothing information includes:

[0010] determining a total water intake of the first type of washing water and the second type of washing water according to the laundry weight information;

[0011] determining the hygroscopicity of the clothes according to the clothing material information, and determining a first water intake amount of the first type of washing water according to the hygroscopicity of the clothes;

[0012] determining a second water inflow of the second type of wash water according to the determined total water inflow and the first water inflow;

[0013] The target heating temperature is determined according to the clothing material information, the first water intake volume, and the second water intake volume.

[0014] In some embodiments, the total amount of the first type of washing water and the second type of washing water is positively correlated with the weight of the laundry;

[0015] The amount of the first type of washing water entering the washing machine is positively correlated with the hygroscopicity of the clothing material.

[0016] In some embodiments, controlling the inflow of the first type of wash water to a first inflow volume includes:

[0017] determining a water level value of the first type of washing water after the water flows in to the first water flow rate;

[0018] Comparing the water level value with the minimum safe water level value;

[0019] When the water level value is lower than the minimum safe water level value, the first type of washing water is controlled to be replenished to the minimum safe water level value.

[0020] In some embodiments, before controlling the inflow of the first type of wash water to the first inflow volume, the control method further includes:

[0021] determining a detergent dosage based on the determined first water inflow of the first type of washing water and the determined second water inflow of the second type of washing water;

[0022] Detergent is added into the washing tub according to the determined detergent addition amount.

[0023] In some embodiments, determining the amount of detergent to be added based on the first water inflow of the first type of wash water and the second water inflow of the second type of wash water includes:

[0024] determining a proportion of the first type of wash water in the total wash water inflow, where the total wash water inflow is the sum of the first water inflow and the second water inflow;

[0025] Determining the amount of detergent to be added according to a comparison result between the proportion and a preset proportion;

[0026] The preset proportion is the proportion of the first type of washing water intake corresponding to the reference fabric under the same clothing weight in the total washing water intake.

[0027] In some embodiments, determining the detergent dosage based on a comparison result of the proportion with a preset proportion and a theoretical detergent dosage includes:

[0028] When the proportion is greater than the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added is reduced based on the theoretical amount of detergent added;

[0029] When the proportion is less than the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added is an amount added based on the theoretical amount of detergent added;

[0030] When the proportion is the same as the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added is the theoretical amount of detergent added;

[0031] The theoretical detergent dosage is the detergent dosage corresponding to the reference fabric under the same fabric weight.

[0032] The second aspect of the present invention proposes a control device, which includes one or more processors and a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions. When the one or more processors execute the program instructions, the one or more processors are used to implement any control method proposed in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0033] A third aspect of the present invention provides a washing machine, which operates according to any control method provided in the first aspect of the present invention, or includes the control device provided in the second aspect of the present invention.

[0034] The technical solution of the present invention can include the following beneficial effects: the present invention controls the inflow of the first type of washing water containing soft water to a first water inflow in the first washing stage, and heats the first type of washing water to a target temperature before washing the clothes, thereby effectively reducing the deposition of calcium and magnesium ions on the electric heating tube and extending the service life of the electric heating tube. The present invention also determines the inflow volume of different first type washing waters based on the clothing information, thereby accurately controlling the consumption of soft water, extending the service life of the soft water generating device, and reducing the cost of use. In addition, the present invention also determines the amount of detergent to be added based on the proportion of the first type of washing water in the total washing water inflow, which can achieve a relatively balanced state between cleaning and foaming, and prevent excessive foam from affecting the subsequent operation of the washing machine.

[0035] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0037] Figure 1 This is one of the control flow charts of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a second control flow chart of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0039] Figure 3 This is a third control flow chart of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0040] Figure 4 This is a fourth control flow chart of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0041] Figure 5 is a structural diagram of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0042] 1. Outer shell; 2. Door; 3. Washing drum; 4. Drain valve; 5. Softened water generator; 6. First water inlet pipe; 7. Water outlet pipe; 8. Second water inlet pipe; 9. Drain pipe; 10. Outer drum. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, when referring to the drawings, like numbers in different figures represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments are not intended to represent all embodiments consistent with the present invention. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatus and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present invention, as detailed in the appended claims.

[0044] The present implementation manner is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments and examples may be combined with each other unless there is any conflict.

[0045] According to an exemplary embodiment, this embodiment provides a control method for a washing machine, wherein the washing stages of the washing machine include a first washing stage and a second washing stage which are executed sequentially. Figure 1 is one of the flow charts of a method for controlling a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 1 , the control method comprises the following steps:

[0046] S11. Determining washing parameter information of the washing machine based on the clothing information, the washing parameter information including a first water inflow volume of the first type of washing water, a second water inflow volume of the second type of washing water, and a target heating temperature for the first washing stage;

[0047] In this embodiment, the first type of washing water includes soft water, and the second type of washing water does not include soft water. The first type of washing water is, for example, pure soft water, or a mixture of soft water and tap water in a certain proportion. The second type of washing water is, for example, tap water. The material information of the clothing can be determined by reading the washing label of the clothing, or by obtaining clothing image information using a camera installed in the washing machine, and determining the clothing material information by processing and identifying the obtained clothing image information. The weight information of the clothing can be determined by weighing the clothing using a weight sensor installed in the washing machine, or by using the motor current value when the washing machine is running. Determining the weight information of the clothing using the motor current value is a prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0048] S12, executing a first washing stage, in which the first type of washing water is controlled to flow in to a first water inlet, and the first type of washing water is heated to a target heating temperature before washing the clothes for a first set time.

[0049] In this embodiment, during the first wash stage, first-type wash water is first introduced into the washing tub. Once the first-type wash water reaches a first water volume, the electric heating tube is activated to heat the first-type wash water. Because the first-type wash water contains soft water, compared to directly heating tap water, this effectively reduces scale deposition on the electric heating tube, thereby extending the service life of the electric heating tube. After the first-type wash water is heated to a target heating temperature, the clothes are washed for a first set time. Using the first-type wash water, which contains soft water, to heat and wash the clothes accelerates the dissolution of dirt on the clothes, thereby improving the cleaning effect.

[0050] In one example, controlling the first type of washing water to flow in to a first water inlet volume includes: determining a water level value after the first type of washing water flows in to the first water inlet volume, comparing the water level value with a minimum safe water level value, and when the water level value is less than the minimum safe water level value, controlling the first type of washing water to be replenished to the minimum safe water level value to avoid damaging the electric heating tube due to heating at the minimum safe water level value.

[0051] S13, executing a second washing stage, in which the second type of washing water is controlled to flow into the second water inlet volume and then the clothes are washed for a second set time;

[0052] In this embodiment, second type of washing water that does not contain soft water is introduced into the washing machine during the second washing stage. At this time, the electric heating tube is not heated to avoid the generation of scale during the second washing stage. At the same time, the second type of washing water still has a certain residual temperature after being mixed with the first type of washing water. The residual temperature is used to perform a secondary heating water wash on the clothes to further promote the dissolution of dirt on the clothes. The sum of the first set time and the second set time is the total washing time of the washing stage.

[0053] Figure 2This is a second flow chart of a method for controlling a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment, referring to Figure 2 , determining the washing parameter information of the washing machine includes the following steps:

[0054] S111. Determine the total water intake of the first type of washing water and the second type of washing water according to the laundry weight information;

[0055] S112, determining the hygroscopicity of the clothes according to the clothing material information, and determining a first water intake amount of the first type of washing water according to the hygroscopicity of the clothes;

[0056] S113, determining a second water inflow of the second type of washing water according to the determined total water inflow and the first water inflow;

[0057] S114. Determine the target heating temperature according to the clothing material information, the first water inflow, and the second water inflow.

[0058] In this embodiment, the total amount of first- and second-type wash water intake is positively correlated with the weight of the laundry, and the amount of first-type wash water intake is positively correlated with the hygroscopicity of the laundry material. The weight of the laundry reflects the total amount of wash water intake. Heavier laundry requires a greater total amount of wash water intake; lighter laundry requires a smaller total amount of wash water intake. After determining the first water intake and the total wash water intake, the hygroscopicity of the laundry is determined based on the laundry material information, and the amount of water absorbed by the laundry can be determined based on this hygroscopicity. Since the first-type wash water intakes during the first wash stage, the greater the hygroscopicity of the laundry, the less water will remain in the washing tub for the same amount of water intake. Therefore, the amount of first-type wash water intake should be higher to ensure a good wash effect in the subsequent first wash stage. The lower the hygroscopicity of the laundry, the more water will remain in the washing tub for the same amount of water intake. Therefore, the amount of first-type wash water intake should be lower to reduce the amount of first-type wash water used. Combined with the washing machine's safety water level, the inflow of the first type of wash water is greater than or equal to the sum of the safety water level and the water absorption of the clothes, thereby determining a first inflow of the first type of wash water. The second inflow of the second type of wash water can be determined based on the total inflow of the first and second type of wash water and the first inflow.

[0059] Furthermore, since the second type of wash water is introduced during the second wash phase, the target heating temperature can be set higher when the proportion of the first water inflow is smaller. This minimizes energy loss and ensures the temperature of the mixed first and second type wash water. Controlling the first water inflow based on the hygroscopicity and weight of different clothing materials not only ensures a safe heating and washing process but also precisely controls the consumption of soft water in the first type of wash water, extending the service life of the soft water generator and reducing operating costs while maintaining a consistent wash water temperature and ensuring optimal washing results.

[0060] The following detailed explanation of how to determine washing parameters is provided using a specific example: For cotton clothing, the total water volume for 1kg of clothing can be 8-11L, 2kg of clothing can be 12-14L, 3kg of clothing can be 15-17L, and so on. Cotton clothing generally has a hygroscopicity of 80%, so 1kg of cotton clothing absorbs 0.8kg of water. Similarly, 2kg of cotton clothing absorbs 1.6kg of water. For a 2kg piece of clothing, based on weighing, the total water intake can be 12-14L, preferably 13L. Furthermore, based on hygroscopicity, 2kg of clothing absorbs 1.6kg of water. Based on the safe water level (preferably 3.5L), the first-category wash water intake can be allocated as 3.5L + 1.6L, which equals 5.1L. This can be rounded up to 5L, so the second-category wash water intake is the total water volume minus the first-category wash water intake, which is approximately 8L. The temperature of the second type of wash water can be considered a constant temperature. Given a fixed total water volume, if the amount of first type wash water entering is high, the amount of second type wash water entering is correspondingly low. Since the temperature of the second type wash water is constant, the temperature required to heat the first type wash water to the target washing temperature after mixing the first and second types of wash water is lower. The target washing water temperature is determined based on the material of the clothing. Similarly, if the amount of first type wash water entering is low, the amount of second type wash water entering is correspondingly high. Consequently, the temperature required to heat the second type wash water to the target washing temperature after mixing the first and second types of wash water is higher. In other words, when the proportion of the first type of water entering is large, the target heating temperature can be set to a lower level to reduce energy consumption during the heating process while still ensuring the temperature of the first and second types of wash water after mixing.

[0061] Specifically, a camera installed at the door seal can capture images of the laundry inside the washing drum. The captured images are then processed to identify the laundry material. Once the laundry material is identified, the hygroscopicity of the laundry can be determined. The hygroscopicity of different materials can be roughly expressed as: wool > linen > cotton > synthetic fiber. Therefore, the water intake for the first type of wash water for different materials is roughly: wool ≥ linen ≥ cotton ≥ synthetic fiber. Based on the hygroscopicity of the laundry material and the weighing results, the first water intake for the first type of wash water, the second water intake for the second type of wash water, and the distribution of the water intakes for the first and second types of wash water are further determined. The target heating temperature is then determined based on the distribution of the first and second water intakes and the laundry material. For example, for cotton fabric, the soft water heating temperature for a 2kg load is 45°C; for wool fabric, the soft water heating temperature for a 2kg load is 35°C. Table 1 exemplifies the relationship between washing parameters and laundry information, such as the first water intake, second water intake, total wash water intake, and target heating temperature, for each laundry material under a 2kg load. The washing parameters corresponding to each material type under other clothing weights are similar to those in Table 1.

[0062] Table 1: Washing parameters for each material type under 2kg clothing weight

[0063] Clothing material Clothing weight Total washing water volume First water inlet Second water inlet Target heating temperature Detergent dosage wool fabric 2kg 15L 6L 9L 35℃ 13g linen fabric 2kg 14L 5.5L 8.5L 44℃ 14g cotton fabric 2kg 13L 5L 8L 45℃ 15g chemical fiber 2kg 11L 4L 7L 48℃ 17g Mixed Materials 2kg 13L 5L 8L 45℃ 15g

[0064] Figure 3 This is a flow chart of a control method for a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 3 Before controlling the first type of washing water to flow into the first water flow rate, the control method further includes the following steps:

[0065] S21, determining a detergent dosage based on the determined first water inflow of the first type of washing water and the second water inflow of the second type of washing water;

[0066] S22: Add detergent into the washing tub according to the determined amount of detergent.

[0067] In this embodiment, determining the amount of detergent to be added based on the first water inflow of the first type of washing water and the second water inflow of the second type of washing water includes: determining the proportion of the first type of washing water in the total water inflow of washing water, and the total water inflow of washing water is the sum of the first water inflow and the second water inflow. The preset proportion is the proportion of the first type of washing water inflow corresponding to the reference fabric under the same clothing weight in the total water inflow of washing water. The reference fabric is, for example, a cotton fabric or a mixed material fabric. According to the mapping relationship between clothing information and washing parameters, the first water inflow and the second water inflow of the reference fabric under the same clothing weight can be determined, and the total water inflow of washing water can be determined based on the first water inflow and the second water inflow, so that the proportion of the first water inflow of the first type of washing water in the total water inflow of washing water for the preset fabric under the same clothing weight can be obtained, which is the preset proportion.

[0068] Then, the proportion of the first water inflow of the first type of washing water corresponding to the washed clothes in the total water inflow of washing water is compared with the preset proportion, and the amount of detergent added is determined based on the comparison result. Specifically, when the proportion is greater than the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added is reduced on the basis of the theoretical detergent addition amount; when the proportion is less than the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added is increased on the basis of the theoretical detergent addition amount; when the proportion is the same as the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added is the theoretical detergent addition amount. The theoretical detergent addition amount is the detergent addition amount corresponding to the reference fabric under the same fabric weight. This is because using soft water to wash clothes can improve the cleaning effect of clothes. When the proportion of the first type of washing water containing soft water is large, appropriately reducing the detergent addition amount based on the theoretical detergent addition amount will not affect the cleaning effect; when the proportion of the first type of washing water containing soft water is small, appropriately increasing the detergent addition amount based on the theoretical detergent addition amount to ensure the decontamination effect on clothes.

[0069] This embodiment adjusts the amount of detergent added according to the distribution of the first water inlet volume, which can achieve a relatively balanced state between cleaning and foam while ensuring the cleaning effect, preventing excessive foam from affecting the subsequent operation of the washing machine.

[0070] Figure 4 This is a fourth control flow chart of a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment, referring to Figure 4 The user puts in the clothes and starts the washing program (process S301). The washing machine then identifies the material of the clothes (process S302). Specifically, the camera installed at the door seal can be used to take pictures of the clothes in the washing drum, and then the pictures are processed to identify the material information of the clothes. After identifying the material information of the clothes, the hygroscopicity of the clothes can be determined. The hygroscopicity of different materials can be roughly expressed as: wool > linen > cotton > chemical fiber. Therefore, the water intake of the first type of washing water for different materials is roughly: wool ≥ linen ≥ cotton ≥ chemical fiber, where the water absorption rate of cotton is generally 80%, and the water absorption rate of chemical fiber is generally 20%. The clothes are then weighed (process S303). Based on the hygroscopicity of the clothes material and the weighing results, the first water intake of the first type of washing water and the distribution of the water intake of the first type of washing water and the second type of washing water are further determined (process S304). As a preferred embodiment, when the garment is made of cotton and weighs 2kg, the total wash water intake can be selected to be 12-14L, preferably 13L. Cotton generally absorbs approximately 1.6kg of water. To reach the minimum safe water level, 4.5L-6L of soft water, preferably 5L, is required, so the tap water volume is 8L. The minimum safe water level is preferably the safe water level when the bucket is empty, which can be selected to be 2.5-5L, preferably 3.5L. Similarly, the intake volumes of the first and second types of wash water for other garment materials can be determined. See Table 1 for details, which shows the mapping relationship between washing parameters and garment information, such as the first water intake, second water intake, total wash water intake, and target heating temperature, for each garment material under a 2kg garment weight.

[0071] Furthermore, the target heating temperature is determined based on the distribution of the first type of washing water and the second type of washing water, as well as the material of the clothes. For example, the target heating temperature of cotton fabric under a weight of 2kg is 45°C, and the target heating temperature of wool fabric under a weight of 2kg is 35°C. The target heating temperatures of fabrics of other materials under a weight of 2kg can be found in Table 1, which shows the mapping relationship between the theoretical detergent dosage and clothing information corresponding to each clothing material under a weight of 2kg.

[0072] Furthermore, the amount of detergent used is determined based on the proportion of the first water inflow of the first type of washing water in the total water inflow of washing water. Specifically, taking cotton (or mixed material) as the reference fabric, the proportion of the first water inflow of the first type of washing water to the total water inflow of washing water is compared with a preset proportion, where the preset proportion is the proportion of the first water inflow of the first type of washing water corresponding to the cotton material (or mixed material) in the total water inflow of washing water. If the calculated proportion is greater than the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added can be appropriately reduced based on the theoretical amount of detergent added. If the calculated proportion is less than the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added can be appropriately increased based on the theoretical amount of detergent added. Preferably, for example, when the weight is 2kg, the preset proportion of cotton fabric (or mixed material) is 5 / 13, and the amount of detergent used is 15g. However, for wool fabric, the proportion of the first water inflow of the first type of washing water in the total water inflow of washing water (2 / 3) is greater than the preset proportion, so the amount of detergent added is appropriately reduced. The detergent addition amount for wool fabric can be 13g. The detergent addition amount for other fabrics under a weight of 2kg is shown in Table 1.

[0073] After determining the first and second water intakes for the first and second types of wash water, the detergent dosage, and the target heating temperature, the soft water generator then introduces soft water into the washing tub (process S304). After water intake is complete, the water level is checked (process S305). If the detected water level W satisfies W ≥ Wi, the heated wash cycle begins (process S309). Otherwise, the first type of wash water must be replenished to the minimum safe water level Wi (process S308) to prevent damage to the heating element from heating below this minimum safe water level. The minimum safe water level Wi is the safe water level for an empty tub and can be set between 2.5 and 5 liters, preferably 3.5 liters. The heated wash process (S309) involves heating to temperature K, then turning off the heating element and washing for the first set duration, T1. Temperature K is determined based on the material of the garment and the distribution of the first and second type wash water. For example, for cotton fabrics weighing 2 kg, the heating temperature is 45°C. Heating temperatures for other fabrics weighing 2 kg are shown in Table 1. The heating washing process heats the first type of washing water containing soft water, so this process basically does not produce scale that harms the electric heating tubes. After the first type of washing water heating washing process is completed, the second type of washing water is added to the second water inlet. The sum of the first water inlet and the second water inlet is the total washing water inlet. After that, the first type of washing water and the second type of washing water are mixed and the washing is continued for the second set time T2. This process no longer heats up, and the washing is carried out by the residual heat after mixing. The sum of the first set time T1 and the second set time T2 is the total main wash time, where the first set time T1 can be selected from 5-15 minutes, preferably 10 minutes; the second set time T2 can be selected from 5-15 minutes, preferably 15 minutes.

[0074] According to an exemplary embodiment, this embodiment proposes a control device, which includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions. When the one or more processors execute the program instructions, the one or more processors are used to implement any control method proposed in any of the above embodiments.

[0075] According to an exemplary embodiment, this embodiment proposes a washing machine, which operates according to any control method proposed in any of the above embodiments, or includes the control device proposed in the above embodiments. Figure 5 The structural diagram of a washing machine includes a housing 1, within which is disposed a washing tub 3, which has a clothing loading opening. A door 2 is provided on the housing 1 at a position corresponding to the clothing loading opening. The washing machine also includes an outer tub 10, with a drain outlet at the bottom thereof connected to a drain pipe with a drain valve 4 installed thereon. The washing machine also includes a soft water generator 5, the water inlet of which is connected to a first water inlet pipe 6, and the water outlet of which is connected to an outlet pipe 7. The soft water generator 5 softens the water from the first water inlet pipe 6 to produce soft water, which then enters the outlet pipe 7. The outlet of the outlet pipe 7 is connected to the washing tub 3. For example, the outlet of the outlet pipe 7 is provided with a spray device, through which the soft water in the outlet pipe 7 enters the washing tub 3. The washing machine also includes a second water inlet pipe 8, which is directly connected to the outlet pipe 7. Both the first and second water inlet pipes 6 and 8 are equipped with control valves. In a preferred embodiment, a detergent delivery box is further provided on the water outlet pipe 7 , and the water in the water outlet pipe 7 flows into the detergent delivery box and then enters the washing tub 3 .

[0076] The washing machine of this embodiment can determine the amount of first-category wash water to be used based on laundry information, thereby precisely controlling soft water consumption, extending the service life of the soft water generator, and reducing operating costs. Furthermore, this embodiment also determines the amount of detergent to be added based on the proportion of first-category wash water in the total wash water intake, achieving a relatively balanced cleansing and foaming state, preventing excessive foam from affecting subsequent operation of the washing machine.

[0077] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in this specification and features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0078] Furthermore, 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 the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. Throughout the description of this application, "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0079] Any process or method description in a flowchart or otherwise described herein may be understood to represent a module, segment or portion of code comprising one or more executable instructions for implementing the steps of a custom logical function or process, and the scope of the preferred embodiments of the present application includes alternative implementations in which functions may be performed out of the order shown or discussed, including performing functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in the reverse order depending on the functions involved, which should be understood by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments of the present application belong.

[0080] The logic and / or steps represented in the flowcharts or otherwise described herein, for example, can be considered as a sequenced list of executable instructions for implementing the logical functions, and can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device (e.g., a computer-based system, a system including a processor, or other system that can fetch and execute instructions from an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device). For purposes of this specification, a "computer-readable medium" can be any device that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable media include the following: an electrical connection with one or more wires (electronic devices), a portable computer disk cartridge (magnetic device), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable and programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), fiber optic devices, and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM). Furthermore, the computer-readable medium may even be paper or other suitable medium on which the program is printed, since the program may be obtained electronically, for example, by optically scanning the paper or other medium and then editing, interpreting or processing it in another suitable manner if necessary, and then storing it in a computer memory.

[0081] It should be understood that various parts of the present application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented using software or firmware stored in a memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented using hardware, as in another embodiment, any one of the following technologies known in the art or a combination thereof can be used to implement: a discrete logic circuit having a logic gate circuit for implementing a logic function on a data signal, an application-specific integrated circuit having a suitable combination of logic gate circuits, a programmable gate array (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

[0082] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps in the method of the above embodiment can be completed by instructing related hardware through a program, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it includes one or a combination of the steps of the method embodiment.

[0083] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a processing module, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a module. The above-mentioned integrated module may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module. If the integrated module is implemented in the form of a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0084] The storage medium mentioned above may be a read-only memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, etc. Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present application. Persons skilled in the art may make changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a washing machine, characterized in that: The washing stages of the washing machine include a first washing stage and a second washing stage which are performed sequentially, and the control method includes: Acquiring clothing information, and determining washing parameter information of the washing machine based on the clothing information, the washing parameter information including a first water inflow volume of the first type of washing water, a second water inflow volume of the second type of washing water, and a target heating temperature for the first washing stage; executing a first washing stage, controlling the inflow of first type washing water to the first water inflow volume in the first washing stage, and washing the clothes for a first set time after heating the first type washing water to the target heating temperature; executing a second washing stage, in which the second type of washing water is controlled to flow into the second water inlet volume and then the clothes are washed for a second set time period; The first type of wash water comprises soft water, and the second type of wash water does not comprise soft water; The clothing information includes clothing material information and clothing weight information; The determining washing parameter information of the washing machine according to the clothing information includes: determining a total water intake of the first type of washing water and the second type of washing water according to the laundry weight information; determining the hygroscopicity of the clothes according to the clothing material information, and determining a first water intake amount of the first type of washing water according to the hygroscopicity of the clothes; determining a second water inflow of the second type of wash water according to the determined total water inflow and the first water inflow; The target heating temperature is determined according to the clothing material information, the first water intake volume, and the second water intake volume.

2. The control method of the washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The total amount of the first type of washing water and the second type of washing water is positively correlated with the weight of the laundry; The amount of the first type of washing water entering the washing machine is positively correlated with the hygroscopicity of the clothing material.

3. The control method of the washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step of controlling the first type of washing water to enter a first water inlet volume comprises: determining a water level value of the first type of washing water after the water flows in to the first water flow rate; Comparing the water level value with the minimum safe water level value; When the water level value is lower than the minimum safe water level value, the first type of washing water is controlled to be replenished to the minimum safe water level value.

4. The control method of the washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before controlling the inflow of the first type of washing water to the first inflow volume, the control method further includes: determining a detergent dosage based on the determined first water inflow of the first type of washing water and the determined second water inflow of the second type of washing water; Detergent is added into the washing tub according to the determined detergent addition amount.

5. The control method of the washing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The step of determining the amount of detergent to be added according to the first water inflow of the first type of washing water and the second water inflow of the second type of washing water comprises: determining a proportion of the first type of wash water in the total wash water inflow, where the total wash water inflow is the sum of the first water inflow and the second water inflow; Determining the amount of detergent to be added according to a comparison result between the proportion and a preset proportion; The preset proportion is the proportion of the first type of washing water intake corresponding to the reference fabric under the same clothing weight in the total washing water intake.

6. The control method of the washing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The step of determining the detergent dosage according to the comparison result between the proportion and the preset proportion and the theoretical detergent dosage comprises: When the proportion is greater than the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added is reduced based on the theoretical amount of detergent added; When the proportion is less than the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added is an amount added based on the theoretical amount of detergent added; When the proportion is the same as the preset proportion, the amount of detergent added is the theoretical amount of detergent added; The theoretical detergent dosage is the detergent dosage corresponding to the reference fabric under the same fabric weight.

7. A control device, characterized in that: It includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions. When the one or more processors execute the program instructions, the one or more processors are used to implement the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A washing machine, characterized in that: The washing machine operates according to the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, or includes the control device according to claim 7.

Images