Household electrical appliances

Abstract

The system allows users to hear fluctuating sounds that can stimulate gamma waves, while minimizing the occurrence of discomfort or unpleasant sensations. [Solution] The washing machine 1, a household electrical appliance, comprises a motor 25 which is a drive device, a washing tub 22 and a rotor 24 which are movable parts rotated by the motor 25, a speaker 37, and a control board 36 which controls the motor 25. The control board 36 has a control circuit formed therein that generates a fluctuating sound having a periodic fluctuation corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves from the speaker 37 in conjunction with the operation of the motor 25.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to household electrical appliances used in general processes, and particularly to household electrical appliances provided with a drive mechanism driven by a drive device such as a motor.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, with the progress of aging, social problems such as an increase in dementia have become apparent, and efforts have been made to prevent and improve dementia. Among such efforts, gamma wave stimulation that induces a certain gamma wave in brain waves by light or sound stimulation to prevent and improve dementia has attracted attention. Specifically, gamma waves are induced by gamma wave stimulation that gives light or sound stimulation at a cycle of 40 Hz included in the frequency range of gamma waves, and it has been reported that amyloid-β protein, which is considered to be a causative substance of Alzheimer's disease, a type of dementia, decreases, and effects such as prevention of Alzheimer's disease and improvement and enhancement of cognitive function are expected.

[0003] As a device using such gamma wave stimulation, for example, in Patent Document 1, an acoustic signal output from a sound source device is divided into two acoustic signals, and approximately 40 Hz (35 Hz or more and 45 Hz or less), which corresponds to the frequency of gamma waves, is applied to one of them. A cognitive function improvement system that outputs a periodic variation and outputs one acoustic signal with the periodic variation and the other acoustic signal as an output acoustic signal is described.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Patent Document 1 describes separating an input acoustic signal into two acoustic signals according to the characteristics of the sound, and in news programs and music programs, separating the sound into human voices and other parts, adding a variation to one while leaving the other unchanged or reducing the degree of variation in the other, thereby reducing the discomfort caused to the user. However, when a user actively tries to listen to the emitted sound, if the sound with the added variation is included, the variation may become noticeable, potentially increasing discomfort and unpleasantness.

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a household electrical appliance that suppresses the risk of causing the aforementioned discomfort or unpleasantness due to the generation of fluctuating sounds for gamma wave stimulation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In one preferred embodiment, the household electrical appliance according to the present invention comprises a movable part, a drive device for driving the movable part, a sound generating unit, and a control unit that controls the operation of the drive device and generates a fluctuating sound having a periodic fluctuation corresponding to the frequency of a gamma wave from the sound generating unit in conjunction with the operation of the drive device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, fluctuating sounds capable of providing gamma wave stimulation can be heard by the user while suppressing the occurrence of discomfort or unpleasantness. Other novel features of the present invention and the technical problems solved thereby will become apparent from the description and drawings herein. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of one embodiment of a washing machine, which is an example of a household electrical appliance to which the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a washing machine. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of a washing machine control panel. [Figure 4]This is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the washing machine's control system. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows an example of the washing machine's operating process. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the waveform of the drive signal supplied to the speaker from the speaker drive circuit. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram showing another example of the drive signal waveform supplied to the speaker from the speaker drive circuit. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram showing another example of a drive signal waveform applied to a speaker from a speaker drive circuit. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram showing another example of a drive signal waveform applied to a speaker from a speaker drive circuit. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram showing yet another example of the drive signal waveform applied to the speaker from the speaker drive circuit. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram showing yet another example of the drive signal waveform applied to the speaker from the speaker drive circuit. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of the rotor blades when the clutch mechanism is set to agitation mode. [Figure 13] This is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of the washing tub when the clutch mechanism is set to the spin-drying mode. [Figure 14] This is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of a vacuum cleaner, which is another example of a household electrical appliance to which the present invention is applied. [Figure 15] This is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the control system for an electric vacuum cleaner. [Figure 16] This is a flowchart showing an example of the control flow for a vacuum cleaner. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, representative embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments and drawings described below are examples for explaining the present invention, and for the sake of clarity of explanation, appropriate omissions or simplifications have been made. Also, note that in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the positions, sizes, shapes, ranges, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may not necessarily represent them accurately.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a washing machine as an example of a household electric appliance to which the present invention is applied.

[0012] In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the washing machine 1 has a drying function for the object to be washed and is a washing and drying machine provided with a vertical washing tub into which the object to be washed is loaded upward, and the explanation will be made based on this assumption. The washing machine 1 may not have a drying function, or may be a two-tub type in which the washing tub and the dehydration tub are separated. Also, it may be a drum-type washing machine that can take in and out the object to be washed from the lateral direction. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of explanation, each direction indicated by an arrow in the lower right of the figure will be described as front, rear, left, right, up, and down.

[0013] The washing machine 1 includes an outer lid 12 that opens and closes a take-out port for taking in and out the object to be washed on the upper surface of the housing 11. Also, an operation panel 13 is arranged in front of the upper surface of the housing 11. The user can operate various functions of the washing machine 1 by operating the operation panel 13.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the washing machine 1.

[0015] The washing machine 1 houses an outer tub 21 inside the housing 11, and includes a washing tub 22 into which the object to be washed is placed inside the outer tub 21.

[0016] The washing tub 22 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open top, and is configured to allow items to be washed to be put in and taken out through the opening. The washing tub 22 is supported within the outer tub 21 as a rotating tub that can rotate relative to the outer tub 21. A balance ring 23 is provided on the inner circumference of the upper opening of the washing tub 22 to maintain its balance when the washing tub 22 rotates. In addition, a rotor blade 24 is provided at the bottom of the washing tub 22, which is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the washing tub 22.

[0017] Below the outer tub 21, a motor 25 is positioned as a drive device for rotating the washing tub 22 and the rotor blade 24. The output shaft of the motor 25 is connected to a clutch mechanism 26 that controls the rotation of the washing tub 22 and the rotor blade 24. The clutch mechanism 26 has two operating modes: an agitation mode in which the washing tub 22 is fixed or allowed to rotate freely and the rotational force of the motor 25 is transmitted to the rotor blade 24, and a dewatering mode in which the rotational force of the motor 25 is transmitted to both the washing tub 22 and the rotor blade 24.

[0018] The outer tank 21 is connected at its bottom to a drainage channel 27 for draining the water stored inside the outer tank 21. A drain valve 28 is provided in the middle of the drainage channel 27, and the drain valve 28 opens and closes (drains / stops water flow) the drainage channel 27.

[0019] A water inlet 29 is provided at the upper rear of the washing machine 1, to which a water supply hose is connected. Water can be supplied to the outer tub 21 via a water supply channel that connects the water inlet 29 to the outer tub 21. A water supply valve 30 is provided in the water supply channel to open and close the channel, and the water supply to the washing machine 1 is controlled by the water supply valve 30. The amount of water stored in the outer tub 21 is detected by a water level sensor 31.

[0020] A fan 32 is also provided at the upper rear of the washing machine 1 for circulating drying air during the drying process, which will be described later. The air sent from the fan 32 is heated by a heater 34 and sent to an air duct 33, where it is sent into the washing tub 22 as drying air. The hot, humid air containing moisture evaporated from the laundry flows through the drying duct 35, where it is cooled and dehumidified, enters the fan 32, and is used as drying air. Note that the heating of the air sent from the fan 32 may be performed by a heat pump type heating device instead of the heater 34.

[0021] Below the control panel 13 at the top front of the washing machine 1 is a control board 36 equipped with a microcontroller unit (MCU), which will be described later, and a speaker 37 used to generate various sounds to inform the user of the end of washing or any abnormalities. By placing the speaker 37 at the top front of the washing machine 1 in this way, the sounds it generates can be easily communicated to the user.

[0022] In this washing machine 1, at least the motor 25 and the fan motor (not shown) that drives the fan 32 can be considered as the drive unit, and the washing tub 22, rotor blades 24, and fan 32 as the movable parts.

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the control panel 13.

[0024] The control panel 13 includes an operation unit 50 for receiving user input and a display unit 51 for informing the user of the settings and operating status of the washing machine 1. The operation unit 50 has a plurality of push-button switches or touch sensors, including operation buttons 52 used by the user, for example, to instruct the volume of the fluctuating sound, which will be described later. Through the operation of these switches, the user can perform various operations on the washing machine 1, such as setting the washing course and the time for each operating process. The user can also understand information such as the operating status of the washing machine 1, such as the washing course set on the washing machine 1 and the remaining time until the end of washing, from the information displayed on the display unit 51. The display unit 51 includes an indicator 53 used to show the setting status of the fluctuating sound volume, which will be described later.

[0025] Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the washing machine 1 in this embodiment.

[0026] The control of each part of the washing machine 1 is performed by an MCU 101 mounted on a control board 36. The MCU 101 is equipped with an arithmetic unit (not shown), memory, and input / output ports, and can perform various processes by executing a program stored in memory using the arithmetic unit. In this embodiment, the MCU 101 acquires various information from the timer 102, operation unit 50, rotation sensors 103 and 104, microphone 105, time acquisition means 106, water level sensor 31, and temperature sensor 107 via the input / output ports, and generates control commands to control the motor 25, clutch mechanism 26, drain valve 28, water supply valve 30, fan motor 108, heater 34, speaker 37, and display unit 51 based on this information. The generated control commands are sent via the input / output ports to the motor drive circuit 109, clutch drive circuit 110, drain valve drive circuit 111, water supply valve drive circuit 112, fan motor drive circuit 113, heater drive circuit 114, speaker drive circuit 115, and display unit drive circuit 116.

[0027] Timer 102 provides time to MCU 101 and is used, for example, for time management in each washing process by MCU 101. Timer 102 does not necessarily need to be located outside of MCU 101; if MCU 101 has a timer function, that can be used.

[0028] As described above, the control unit 50 is operated by the user and used to operate the washing machine 1. The MCU 101 controls each part based on the user operation information input from the control unit 50.

[0029] The rotation sensor 103 is provided on the motor 25 and can acquire information regarding the rotation speed of the motor 25 and provide it to the MCU 101. The rotation sensor 104 is provided on the fan motor 108 that drives the fan 32 and can acquire information regarding the rotation speed of the fan motor 108 and provide it to the MCU 101.

[0030] The microphone 105 can input ambient sounds around the washing machine 1 and sounds generated by the washing machine 1 itself, convert them into electrical signals, and provide them to the MCU 101. The time acquisition means 106 functions as a clock, providing the time to the MCU 101. The water level sensor 31 provides the MCU 101 with information on the water level stored in the outer tub 21. The temperature sensor 107 detects the temperature inside the outer tub 21 or washing tub 22, which is used, for example, to determine the drying state of the laundry during the drying process, and provides this information to the MCU 101.

[0031] The motor drive circuit 109 rotates the motor 25 in response to control commands sent from the MCU 101. The clutch drive circuit 110 drives the clutch mechanism 26 in response to control commands sent from the MCU 101 to control the transmission of the rotational output of the motor 25 to the washing tub 22 and the rotor blade 24, and also defines the rotation direction of the washing tub 22 and the rotor blade 24.

[0032] The drain valve drive circuit 111 opens and closes the drain valve 28 in response to control commands sent from the MCU 101, controlling the storage of water in the outer tank 21 and the drainage of water from the outer tank 21. The water supply valve drive circuit 112 opens and closes the water supply valve 30 in response to control commands sent from the MCU 101, controlling the supply of water to the outer tank 21.

[0033] The fan motor drive circuit 113 drives the fan motor 108 that drives the fan 32 in response to control commands sent from the MCU 101, circulating the drying air inside the washing machine 1. The heater drive circuit 114 controls the power supply to the heater 34 in response to control commands sent from the MCU 101. When power is supplied to the heater 34, the heater 34 heats up, and the drying air sent from the fan 32 is heated and sent to the air supply duct 33.

[0034] The speaker drive circuit 115 drives the speaker 37 in response to control commands sent from the MCU 101, generating alarm sounds to indicate abnormalities, completion sounds to indicate the end of washing, and other sounds such as the fluctuating sounds described later. The speaker drive circuit 115, together with the speaker 37, constitutes the sound generation unit.

[0035] The display drive circuit 116 drives the display unit 51 on the operation panel 13 in response to control commands sent from the MCU 101, and displays the operating status of the washing machine 1, etc.

[0036] The interface unit 117 is an interface for connecting the washing machine 1 to external devices (not shown) or an external network. The washing machine 1 can communicate with other devices, such as a smartphone (not shown), via the interface unit 117, and some or all of the operations that can be performed via the control panel 13 can be performed from other devices via the network. Furthermore, by enabling adjustments to the volume of the fluctuating sound and selection of the bass tone, as described later, from other devices, usability can be improved.

[0037] The data storage unit 118 is configured to include, for example, a storage device such as flash memory, and can be used to store sound source data that forms the basis of the sound emitted from the speaker 37. If there is sufficient memory in the MCU 101, the memory in the MCU 101 may be used as the data storage unit 118.

[0038] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation process of the washing machine 1 in this embodiment. Here, as an example of the operation of the washing machine 1, a general washing operation will be used as an example.

[0039] The washing machine 1 is powered on and started up when the user turns on the power switch located on the control panel 13 (step S100).

[0040] When the power is turned on, the MCU 101 sets each part of the washing machine 1 to its initial state, for example, by setting the clutch mechanism 26 to agitation mode, and accepts user input from the control section 50 of the control panel 13. Here, it is assumed that the user has selected a washing cycle (standard course). When the MCU 101 recognizes that the start button on the control panel 13 has been pressed following the selection of the washing cycle, it starts the operation (step S105).

[0041] In the washing cycle, which is the first step of the washing operation, the MCU 101 controls the water supply valve drive circuit 112 to open the water supply valve 30 and supply water to the outer tub 21. When the MCU 101 detects that the amount of water corresponding to the amount of laundry has been stored in the outer tub 21 using the water level sensor 31, it controls the water supply valve drive circuit 112 to close the water supply valve 30 and controls the motor drive circuit 109 to rotate the motor 25 and rotate the rotor blade 24. During the washing cycle, the rotation and stopping of the motor 25, as well as the direction of rotation, are switched at regular intervals.

[0042] When the washing process begins, the MCU101 reads the data for the fluctuating sound 1 from the data holding unit 118, drives the speaker 37 via the speaker drive circuit 115, and generates the fluctuating sound from the speaker 37. At this time, the MCU101 adjusts the volume of the fluctuating sound via the speaker drive circuit 115 so that the user can hear the fluctuating sound appropriately. In this case, the MCU101 may be configured to accept volume instructions from the user via the operation button 52 of the operation unit 50.

[0043] It is desirable that the volume of the fluctuating sound be adjustable in multiple stages. In this embodiment, as an example, the volume can be set in five stages, including no volume, and the set volume is indicated by the lighting status of the four LEDs of the indicator 53 provided on the display unit 51. Specifically, when all four LEDs of the indicator 53 are off, it is indicated that there is no fluctuating sound, and the number of LEDs that light up increases by one for each stage the volume increases.

[0044] The speaker drive circuit 115 is configured to emit sound at a volume louder than the operating noise generated by the operation of the drive device and movable parts such as the motor 25. When the user instructs the maximum volume, the MCU 101 controls the speaker drive circuit 115 so that the fluctuating sound is emitted at a volume louder than the operating noise. Specifically, the maximum volume is, for example, a volume louder than the smallest value among the operating noise values ​​other than the sound emitted from the speaker 37, such as washing, spinning, and drying, as specified by the manufacturer as part of the washing machine 1's specifications. For example, it is desirable that the volume be approximately 35 dB or higher at a distance of 1 m from the washing machine 1.

[0045] Furthermore, the presence or absence and volume of the fluctuating sound may be set at any time, not just before the start of operation of the washing machine 1. In addition, the speaker drive circuit 115 may be controlled to generate a fluctuating sound at a volume louder than the ambient noise of the washing machine 1, by acquiring ambient noise around the washing machine 1, for example, input to the microphone 101 (step S110).

[0046] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the waveform of the drive signal supplied to the speaker 37 from the speaker drive circuit in order to generate a fluctuating sound from the speaker 37 in this embodiment. Since the waveform of the sound emitted from the speaker 37 corresponds to the waveform of the input drive signal, in the following description, for convenience, the waveform of the drive signal applied to the speaker 37 will be described as the waveform of the sound emitted from the speaker 37.

[0047] In this embodiment, the sound emitted from the speaker 37 is a base tone (referred to as the bass tone in this specification) that is repeatedly emitted and stopped at a period of approximately 40 Hz, corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves. Here, as an example, the bass tone is varied with a period of 15 ms for emission and 10 ms for suspension. While any sound within the audible frequency range can be used for the bass tone, it is desirable to use a sound in the frequency range of 400 Hz to 5 kHz, where human hearing is highly sensitive.

[0048] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, for example, by varying the pitch (frequency) for each sound and constructing a base tone with combinations of different pitches, it is possible to play any melody using fluctuating sounds. The data holding unit 118 stores sound data obtained by sampling the fluctuating sound waveform shown in Figure 6, for example. The MCU 101 reads the sound data from the data holding unit 118, and the speaker drive circuit 115 converts the sound data into an analog signal to drive the speaker 37, thereby generating fluctuating sounds. If the MCU 101 is equipped with a digital / analog converter, the MCU 101 may generate an analog signal from the sound data and drive the speaker 37 via the speaker drive circuit 115.

[0049] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the drive signal waveform supplied to speaker 37.

[0050] The fluctuating sound emitted from speaker 37 may not have a period consisting of repeated sound production and cessation, as shown in Figure 6, but rather, as shown in Figure 7, the amplitude of the drive signal may change with a period of approximately 40 Hz, corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves, i.e., the magnitude of the fluctuating sound may change. In this case, the ratio of the amplitudes of the large and small parts of the drive signal does not necessarily have to be constant and may be different. In Figure 7, as an example, the amplitude of the small amplitude part in the latter half of section D (0.2 times that of the large amplitude part) is larger than the amplitude of the small amplitude part in the latter half of section A to C (0.8 times that of the large amplitude part). By irregularly providing sections in which the amplitude of the small amplitude part differs from that of the small amplitude parts in other sections, and thus changing the fluctuation of the sound, it is possible to suppress boredom from prolonged listening. Alternatively, instead of changing the fluctuation of the sound by irregularly changing the amplitude of the small amplitude part, it is also possible to change the fluctuation of the sound by, for example, irregularly stopping the sound production of the large amplitude part.

[0051] Here, a single-note melody is shown as an example of a bass tone, but multiple notes can be played simultaneously to create a chord melody. The length of a single note does not need to match the period of the fluctuating sound; the melody can be played with notes of different lengths and notes. Furthermore, the sound data held in the data holding unit 118 does not need to be sound data obtained by sampling the fluctuating sound itself emitted from the speaker 37; it may be sound data obtained by sampling a general melody played by combining different notes. In this case, the sound data read from the data holding unit 118 is modulated (fluctuated) using a square wave with a frequency corresponding to a gamma wave in the MCU 101 or the speaker drive circuit 115, resulting in a waveform signal as shown in Figure 6 or Figure 7.

[0052] In this way, by configuring the system to obtain a fluctuating sound by modulating general sound data that has not been modulated, it becomes possible for the user to use arbitrary sound data as the base sound. For example, if the washing machine 1 is connected to an external network such as the internet via the interface unit 117, sound data that can be obtained via the network can be downloaded to the data storage unit 118, or obtained by streaming, and used as the base sound. If the interface unit 117 is equipped with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, for example, sound data can be read from an external storage device such as a USB memory to the data storage unit 118, or sound data can be read from a connected storage device and used without going through the data storage unit 118. Furthermore, if the interface unit 117 is equipped with an audio interface, it is also possible to connect a music player or the like and input its playback sound, and use the playback sound as the base sound. This makes it possible to generate the base sound that the user wants to hear and to reduce boredom, listening fatigue, and discomfort that the user may experience from continuously listening to fluctuating sounds.

[0053] Returning to Figure 5, once the washing process is complete, the MCU101 proceeds to the rinse-and-dry process.

[0054] In the rinse-drying cycle, the MCU 101 controls the drain valve drive circuit 111 to open the drain valve 28 and drain the water stored in the outer tub 21. After draining the water from the outer tub 21, the MCU 101 switches the clutch mechanism 26 to the spin-drying mode, drives the motor 25 to gradually increase its rotation speed, and rotates the washing tub 22 and rotor blades 24 at high speed to dewater the laundry.

[0055] When the rinse-drying process begins, the MCU 101 generates a fluctuating sound 2 from the speaker 37, which has a different melody from fluctuating sound 1 used in the washing process. Like fluctuating sound 1, fluctuating sound 2 is a fluctuating sound in which the base sound is varied with a period corresponding to the frequency of a gamma wave (step S115).

[0056] When the first rinse-and-dry cycle is completed, the MCU 101 slows down the rotation of the motor 25 and, in the first rinse cycle, opens the water supply valve 30 and rinses the laundry while supplying water to the outer tub 21. When the first rinse cycle begins, the MCU 101 generates a fluctuating sound 3 from the speaker 37, which has a different melody from the fluctuating sounds of the washing and rinse-and-dry cycles, namely fluctuating sound 1 and fluctuating sound 2 (step S120).

[0057] After performing the first rinse cycle for a specified time, the MCU 101 closes the water supply valve 30 and drives the motor 25 at high speed again to perform the second rinse-spin cycle, which involves spinning the laundry for the second time. During the second rinse-spin cycle, a fluctuating sound 4, which is different from the melody of fluctuating sounds 1-3 and fluctuates with a period corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves, is generated from the speaker 37 (step S125).

[0058] Once the two rinse-and-dry cycles are complete, the MCU101 stops the motor 25 and starts the second rinse cycle. In the second rinse cycle, the MCU101 closes the drain valve 28 and opens the water supply valve 30 to supply water to the outer tank 21 and fill it with a specified amount of water. After that, the MCU101 switches the clutch mechanism 26 to agitation mode and drives the motor 25 to rotate the rotor blades 24 alternately in both left and right directions, with periods of stillness in between, similar to the washing cycle.

[0059] During the two rinsing cycles, the MCU101 generates a fluctuating sound 5 from speaker 37, which has a different melody from fluctuating sounds 1-4 and fluctuates with a period corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves (step S130).

[0060] Once the two rinsing cycles are complete, the MCU 101 enters the dewatering process, stopping the motor 25, closing the water supply valve 30 to stop the water supply to the outer tub 21, and opening the drain valve 28 to drain the water stored in the outer tub 21. When the MCU 21 detects that the water level in the outer tub 21 has dropped to a predetermined level using the water level sensor 31, it switches the clutch mechanism 26 back to dewatering mode, gradually increases the speed of the motor 25, and rotates the washing tub 22 and rotor blades 24 at high speed to dewater the laundry.

[0061] During the dewatering process, the MCU 101 generates a fluctuating sound 6 from speaker 37, which has a different melody from fluctuating sounds 1-5 and fluctuates with a period corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves (step S135).

[0062] After the specified spin-drying time is complete, the MCU 101 stops the motor and stops the washing tub 22 and rotor 24. Then, it emits a completion notification sound from the speaker 37 to notify the user that the operation is finished and the process is complete. A different melody from the fluctuating sounds 1-6 is used for the completion notification sound. The completion notification sound may have fluctuations corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves, similar to the fluctuating sounds 1-6, or it may be the same as the completion notification sound of conventional washing machines, without any fluctuations.

[0063] Furthermore, if, after the completion notification sound is generated, the user does not perform a predetermined operation such as removing the laundry from the washing tub 22 (opening the outer lid 12), the MCU 101 may generate a fluctuating sound from the speaker 37 at predetermined intervals (e.g., several minutes) for a predetermined time (e.g., several tens of seconds) to notify the user to perform the predetermined operation. In this case, it is preferable that a different melody from the fluctuating sounds used in each stage of the operation be used as the base tone for the generated fluctuating sound. This makes it easier for the user to recognize that the operation is complete (step S140).

[0064] Furthermore, the fluctuating sound may be generated even before the washing process (step S110), for example, at step S105, when the user performs an operation. This allows the user to listen to the fluctuating sound for a longer period of time, and also allows the user to check and adjust the volume and base tone of the fluctuating sound in advance.

[0065] In this embodiment, a fluctuating sound based on a different melody is generated during each operating cycle of the washing machine 1. While the same melody could be used as the base tone for each cycle, generating fluctuating sounds using different melodies for each cycle helps prevent users from becoming bored, fatigued, or experiencing increased discomfort from continuously listening to the same sound. Furthermore, users can recognize the progress of the washing process and which operating cycle the washing machine 1 is in from the fluctuating sounds.

[0066] The melody used as the base tone in each process does not need to be fixed; for example, multiple sound data with different melodies may be stored in the data storage unit 118, allowing the user to select the sound data to be used as the base tone for each process.

[0067] In this embodiment, the melody that serves as the base tone is changed for each process, but in cases where the same process continues for a long time, such as in the drying process, the melody that serves as the base tone may be changed midway through. Also, if the drying time exceeds one hour, for example, the fluctuations may be generated for 30 minutes after the start of the drying process and for 30 minutes before the end of the drying process, and the generation of the fluctuation sound may be stopped during the time in between, or the volume of the fluctuation sound may be gradually reduced after the start of the drying process. This makes it possible to prevent users from becoming bored, fatigued, or increasingly uncomfortable from listening to the same sound for an extended period.

[0068] Alternatively, instead of changing the base tone for each process, the fluctuating tone can be changed at predetermined intervals. For example, the base tone could be changed every 10 minutes or every 10 minutes after the start of operation, or, if a single base tone is short, it could be used repeatedly a predetermined number of times, such as 10 times, to sequentially change the tone.

[0069] In the embodiments described above, a fluctuating tone is generated using a tone that plays a melody composed of a combination of multiple scales as the base tone. However, the scale of the base tone does not necessarily need to change as long as the fluctuating tone has fluctuations corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves.

[0070] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a drive signal waveform applied to speaker 37 to generate a fluctuating sound.

[0071] The fluctuating sound shown in Figure 8 uses a sinusoidal signal at an audible frequency, such as 1 kHz, as the base tone. The base tone is repeatedly emitted and stopped at a period corresponding to a gamma wave, similar to the signal shown in Figure 6. The signal shown in Figure 8 has an emission time of 5 ms and a stop time of 20 ms, which is shorter than the emission time per cycle compared to the signal shown in Figure 6. By shortening the emission time in this way, the fluctuating sound becomes more noticeable to the user.

[0072] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a drive signal waveform applied to speaker 37 to generate a fluctuating sound.

[0073] The waveform shown in Figure 9 uses a pulse wave signal with a frequency of 1 kHz as the base tone, which is within the audible frequency range. When generating a fluctuating wave signal to be applied to the speaker 37 in the MCU 101, using such a pulse wave or a short-duration square wave signal as the base tone allows for the generation of HIGH / LOW pulse signals at predetermined timings, thus simplifying processing in the MCU 101.

[0074] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, by controlling the sound to repeatedly change in amplitude rather than repeatedly starting and stopping, the change in sound is weakened, making the fluctuating sound easier to hear. Also, by making the duration of the sound longer compared to the waveform shown in Figure 8, the sound becomes clearer and easier to hear.

[0075] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing yet another example of a drive signal waveform applied to speaker 37 to generate a fluctuating sound.

[0076] Figure 10 shows a 1kHz bass tone being modulated using a sinusoidal signal of approximately 40Hz, corresponding to the frequency of a gamma wave. Up until now, we have explained the case where a square wave is used as the signal to modulate the bass tone, but the signal used to modulate the bass tone does not necessarily have to be a square wave; as shown in Figure 10, a sinusoidal signal may also be used.

[0077] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram showing yet another example of a drive signal waveform applied to speaker 37 to generate a fluctuating sound.

[0078] The waveform shown in Figure 11, like that shown in Figure 10, is obtained by modulating the bass tone using a sinusoidal signal. In Figure 10, the fluctuations in the bass tone are varied between 0 and 100%, but in Figure 11, the fluctuations in the bass tone are varied between 50 and 100%, and the amount of amplitude change is reduced to half (50%) of that shown in Figure 10.

[0079] In this way, reducing the amplitude change of the bass tone weakens the sound fluctuations, making it easier to listen to. On the other hand, if the change is too small, it will no longer be audible as a fluctuating sound, so it is desirable for the change to be 20% or more.

[0080] In this way, by generating a fluctuating sound in conjunction with the operation of washing machine 1, the user passively hears the fluctuating sound mixed in with the operating sound generated by the movement of the washing machine's moving parts. Since the operating sound of the washing machine is not a sound that the user actively wants to hear, even if a fluctuating sound that can provide gamma wave stimulation is added, it does not cause any discomfort or unpleasantness such as difficulty in listening. Furthermore, because the fluctuating sound is generated over the operating sound, it can alleviate the unpleasantness caused by the operating sound. In addition, since the fluctuating sound is not a pleasant sound to listen to, the presence of the operating sound of washing machine 1 helps to suppress any unpleasantness. Moreover, since the fluctuating sound is automatically emitted in conjunction with the operation of the washing machine, the user can hear the fluctuating sound without any effort. Furthermore, in household electrical appliances such as washing machines, which inevitably generate operating sound when performing their primary function of washing, changing the operating sound into a sound with a different function allows for effective use of the time that the user would otherwise passively listen to the operating sound.

[0081] In this embodiment, the use of a square wave or sinusoidal signal as the signal to vary the bass tone was described as an example. However, other signals with waveforms of different shapes that change periodically and have a frequency corresponding to the frequency of a gamma wave, such as a triangular wave or a sawtooth wave, may also be used as signals to vary the bass tone.

[0082] In the embodiment described above, a pre-prepared sound or sound data is used as the base sound to generate a fluctuating sound. In the second embodiment described below, a washing machine is used as an example, similar to the first embodiment, as a household electrical appliance capable of generating a fluctuating sound that can provide gamma wave stimulation using the operating noise generated by the appliance without pre-preparing a sound or sound data.

[0083] The washing machine in this embodiment also has basically the same configuration and functions as the washing machine in the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4. In this embodiment, since the operating noise is used to generate fluctuating sounds, the data holding unit 118, which is provided in the first embodiment to hold the sound data of the base tone, does not necessarily need to be provided.

[0084] Furthermore, the basic flow of the operating process performed by the washing machine in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. Therefore, the following description will explain the generation of fluctuating noise in the washing machine of this embodiment with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0085] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of the rotor blade 24 when the clutch mechanism 26 is set to agitation mode, such as during the washing process (S110), rinse 1 process (S120), and rinse 2 process (S130).

[0086] In this embodiment, the washing machine 1 is configured to allow the user to switch between normal operation, which does not generate fluctuating noise, and operation, which generates fluctuating noise, via the control unit 50. In Figure 12, the upper waveform shows the change in rotation speed of the rotor blade 24 over time during normal operation, and the lower waveform shows the change in rotation speed of the rotor blade 24 over time when fluctuating noise is generated. In the figure, a positive rotation speed indicates clockwise rotation when the rotor blade 24 is viewed from above, and a negative rotation speed indicates counterclockwise rotation when the rotor blade 24 is viewed from above. In the following, the time during which the rotor blade 24 is rotating in normal operation will be referred to as the "ON time," and the time during which it is stopped will be referred to as the "OFF time."

[0087] In this embodiment as well, during the washing process (S110), the first rinse process (S120), and the second rinse process (S130), the clutch mechanism 26 is set to agitation mode, and the washing tub 22 is fixed or allowed to rotate freely, transmitting the rotational force of the motor 25 to the rotor blade 24. During normal operation, the MCU 101 controls the motor 25 so that the rotor blade 24 rotates to the right or left at rotation speed W during the ON time, and controls the motor 25 to stop the rotor blade 24 during the OFF time. Generally, both the ON time and the OFF time are set to a time of about 0.3 to 2 seconds.

[0088] When set to generate fluctuating sound, the MCU 101 controls the motor 25 so that the rotor blade 24 rotates at a rotational speed N = W + V1·sin(2πf·t) during the ON time. This control is performed by sending a fluctuating signal from the MCU 101 to the motor drive circuit 109, which varies the current applied to the motor 25 at frequency f, thereby varying the output torque of the motor 25. As a result, the rotational speed of the rotor blade 24 fluctuates with a period of frequency f and a range of ±V1. Here, f is a frequency corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves, and is approximately 40Hz.

[0089] Normally, the operating noise increases as the rotational speed of the rotor blades 24 increases. By varying the rotational speed of the rotor blades 24 with a period corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves, the operating noise becomes a fluctuating sound with a period corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves, allowing the user to hear a fluctuating sound that provides gamma wave stimulation.

[0090] During the OFF period corresponding to the OFF time in normal operation, the MCU 101 controls the motor 25 so that the rotation speed N of the rotor blade 24 rotates at V2·sin(2πf·t). That is, during the OFF period corresponding to the OFF time in normal operation, the rotor blade 24 is controlled to rotate alternately with a range of ±V2 at a period of frequency f. During the OFF time, the rotor blade 24 rotates alternately with a rotation speed of 0 in between, so the operating sound fluctuates twice during one period. For this reason, f during the OFF time is set to approximately half the frequency corresponding to the gamma wave frequency, approximately 20Hz. This makes it possible to generate a fluctuating sound that changes with a period of approximately 40Hz even during the OFF time.

[0091] Furthermore, during the OFF period, the rotor blades 24 can be rotated in only one direction to generate operating noise. In this case, similar to the ON period, the rotation speed should be periodically varied at a frequency corresponding to the gamma wave frequency, approximately 40 Hz. Also, the rotation speed fluctuation ranges V1 and V2 during the ON and OFF periods do not necessarily have to be different; they may be varied by the same range. In addition, the rotation speed only needs to fluctuate with a period of approximately 40 Hz and does not need to fluctuate in a sinusoidal manner.

[0092] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram showing the operating state of the washing tub 22 when the clutch mechanism 26 is set to the spin-drying mode, such as during the rinse-spin-drying 1st step (S115), rinse-spin-drying 2nd step (S125), and spin-drying step (S135).

[0093] In the rinse-and-dry 1st step (S115), rinse-and-dry 2nd step (S125), and spin-drying step (S135), as described above, the MCU 101 switches the clutch mechanism 26 to spin-drying mode and uses the motor 25 to rotate the washing tub 22 and the rotor blade 24 simultaneously in one direction. In Figure 13, the upper waveform shows the time change in the rotation speed of the washing tub 22 (and rotor blade 24) during normal operation, and the lower waveform shows the time change in the rotation speed of the washing tub 22 when a fluctuating sound is generated.

[0094] During normal operation, when no fluctuating noise is generated, the rotational speed N of the washing tub 22 is controlled to gradually increase to the maximum rotational speed by passing through multiple stages of constant-speed rotation. The maximum rotational speed is, for example, approximately 900 rpm, but this does not necessarily have to be the maximum rotational speed that the motor 25 can drive.

[0095] When set to generate fluctuating noise, the MCU101, in each stage corresponding to the stage in which the washing tub 22 rotates at a constant speed during normal operation, fluctuates the rotation speed of the washing tub 22 with a period of approximately 40 Hz, corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves, similar to how the rotation speed of the rotor blades 24 is fluctuated during the washing process. For example, as shown in Figure 13, in the stage corresponding to the stage in which the washing tub 22 rotates at a low speed of Ws1 during normal operation, the MCU101 fluctuates the rotation speed within a range of ±Vs1 around the rotation speed Ws1. Similarly, the rotation of the washing tub 22 is controlled so that the rotation speed fluctuates within a range of ±Vs2 in the stage corresponding to low-speed rotation at rotation speed Ws2, ±Vs3 in the stage corresponding to constant-speed rotation at rotation speed Ws3, and ±Vs4 in the stage corresponding to constant-speed rotation at the maximum rotation speed Ws4.

[0096] This allows for the generation of fluctuating noises corresponding to the rotation speed and its range of variation at each stage of constant-speed rotation. The range of variation in rotation speed at each stage does not necessarily have to be different; it may be the same.

[0097] According to this embodiment, by controlling the rotational speed of the motor 25 and thereby varying the rotational speed of the washing tub 22 and / or the rotor blade 24, it is possible to generate fluctuating sounds that can stimulate the user with gamma waves by utilizing the operating noise emitted by the washing machine 1. In the drying process, by controlling the fan motor 108 in the same manner, fluctuating sounds can be generated by utilizing the operating noise associated with the operation of the fan motor.

[0098] Thus, in this embodiment, the operating noise of the washing machine is used to generate fluctuating sounds. In other words, the washing machine of this embodiment can be described as one that generates fluctuating sounds by making the drive devices such as the motor and fan motor, which are sources of operating noise, as well as the movable parts such as the washing tub, rotor blades, and fan, function as sound generating units.

[0099] In this embodiment, the rotation speed of the washing tub 22 and / or the rotor blades 24 is varied to generate a fluctuating sound. However, for example, the operating sound of the washing machine 1 may be acquired using a microphone 105, and the sound obtained by inverting the phase of the operating sound may be used as a base sound, which is then varied in the same way as in the first embodiment and emitted from the speaker 37. In this case, the fluctuating sound is generated in such a way that the operating sound of the washing machine 1 is periodically canceled out by the fluctuating sound generated from the speaker 37. Therefore, not only can the user be made to hear a fluctuating sound that stimulates gamma waves, but the user may also perceive the operating sound as being quieter.

[0100] According to this embodiment, it is possible to generate fluctuating sounds that can stimulate the user with gamma waves by utilizing the operating sounds of a washing machine, without having to prepare data for the fluctuating sounds or the base sounds that form the basis of the fluctuating sounds.

[0101] In the first and second embodiments, a washing machine was used as an example of a household electrical appliance. In the third embodiment described below, a vacuum cleaner will be used as another example of a household electrical appliance.

[0102] Figure 14 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of a vacuum cleaner, which is another example of a household electrical appliance to which the present invention is applied.

[0103] The electric vacuum cleaner 2 comprises a main body 200, a dust collection unit 210, a filter unit 220, a fan motor 230, and a battery 240. The main body 200 has an operating handle 250 that the user grips and operates, and a hand-held control unit 260 for the user to operate the power ON / OFF, switch the operation of the fan motor 230, etc. One end of a detachable extension tube 270 is connected to the main body 200, and a suction nozzle 280 is connected to the other end of the extension tube 270.

[0104] The suction nozzle 280 has a rotating brush (not shown) attached to a rotating body that extends in the width direction of the suction nozzle 280 at the front of its bottom surface, and a rotating brush motor (not shown) that rotates the rotating brush at the rear interior. When the vacuum cleaner 2 is in operation, the rotating brush motor rotates the rotating brush, which lifts up dirt on the floor surface with the brush and allows the dirt to be effectively sucked up.

[0105] A speaker 290 is located inside the main body 200 near the hand-held control unit 260. By placing the speaker 290 near the hand-held control unit 260, the speaker can be positioned relatively close to the user's ears when operating the vacuum cleaner 2, allowing the user to hear the sound without the volume being excessively high. Furthermore, by allowing the volume of the sound emitted from the speaker 290 to be adjusted using the hand-held control unit 260 located on the operating handle 250, the user can easily adjust the volume of the sound emitted from the speaker 290 to their preference.

[0106] The electric vacuum cleaner 2 is a so-called stick-type vacuum cleaner that uses power supplied by the battery 240 to drive the fan motor 230, uses the suction force generated by driving the fan motor 230 to suck up dust from the suction port 280, and collects the dust in the dust collection section 210 via the extension tube 270.

[0107] In this case, in the vacuum cleaner 2, at least the fan motor 230 and the rotating brush motor can be considered as drive units, and the fan (not shown) and rotating brush, which are driven by the fan motor 230 to generate suction force, can be considered as movable parts.

[0108] Figure 15 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the vacuum cleaner 2. In Figure 15, parts that have the same function as those in the first embodiment described in Figure 4 are given the same reference numerals as in Figure 4, and their descriptions will be omitted below unless necessary.

[0109] The vacuum cleaner 2 is mounted on a control board (not shown) housed within the main body 200 and controlled by an MCU 301. The MCU 301 includes an arithmetic unit, memory, and input / output ports, and can perform various processes by executing a program stored in memory using the arithmetic unit.

[0110] The MCU301 acquires various information from the timer 102, the handheld control unit 260, the rotation sensors 302 and 303, the microphone 105, the time acquisition means 106, and the battery level sensor 304 via input / output ports, and generates control commands for the fan motor drive circuit 305, the rotary brush motor drive circuit 306, and the speaker drive circuit 115 based on this information.

[0111] The rotation sensor 302 is provided on the fan motor 230 and can acquire information about the rotation speed of the fan motor 230 and provide it to the MCU 301. The rotation sensor 303 is provided on the rotating brush motor 307 provided on the suction port 280 and can acquire information about the rotation speed of the rotating brush motor 307 and provide it to the MCU 301. The battery level sensor 304 is provided on the battery 240 and acquires the battery level, i.e., the remaining amount of electrical energy stored in the battery 240 and provides it to the MCU 301.

[0112] The fan motor drive circuit rotates the fan motor 230 according to control commands sent from the MCU 301 and adjusts the suction force generated by the rotation of the fan motor 230. The rotary brush motor drive circuit 306 rotates the rotary brush motor 307 according to control commands sent from the MCU 301. The speaker drive circuit 115 drives the speaker 290 according to control commands sent from the MCU 301 and generates a fluctuating sound from the speaker 290.

[0113] Figure 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the control flow of the vacuum cleaner 2 executed by the MCU301 in this embodiment.

[0114] When the user turns on the power switch on the handheld control unit 260 to instruct the operation of the vacuum cleaner 2 (step S200), the MCU 301 acquires the remaining battery level detected by the battery level sensor 304 (step S205).

[0115] The MCU301 compares the battery level obtained in step S205 with a first battery level value that is pre-set as "no battery remaining" to determine whether there is any battery remaining. If the battery level is less than or equal to the first battery level value and it is determined that there is no battery remaining, the process proceeds to step S250, and the MCU301 stops the operation of the vacuum cleaner 2 (step S210).

[0116] Next, the MCU301 compares the battery level obtained in step S205 with a pre-set second battery level to determine whether there is sufficient battery power. If it is determined that the battery level is low and below the second battery level, the process moves to step S240 (step S215).

[0117] If, in step S215, the battery level exceeds the second battery level and it is determined that there is sufficient battery power, the MCU 301 acquires the operating mode set by the handheld control unit 260. The operating mode is, for example, a mode corresponding to the strength of the suction power, and in this embodiment, there are two modes: a standard mode and a strong mode with stronger suction power than the standard mode. There are not limited to two operating modes; there may be three or more levels of suction power (step S220).

[0118] The MCU301 determines whether the acquired operating mode is the standard mode or not. If the operating mode is the standard mode, the process proceeds to step S230; otherwise, it proceeds to step S235 (step S225).

[0119] When the operating mode is set to standard mode, the MCU 301 generates control commands in step S230 so that the operating states of the fan motor 230 and the rotary brush motor 307 are set to the values ​​configured for standard mode. The MCU 301 then sends the generated control commands to the fan motor drive circuit 305 and the rotary brush motor drive circuit 306 to control the operation of the fan motor 230 and the rotary brush motor 307. The MCU 301 also reads the sound data of the fluctuating sound 1 from the data holding unit 118 and drives the speaker 290 via the speaker drive circuit 115 to generate the fluctuating sound 1 from the speaker 290.

[0120] In this embodiment, the fluctuating sound emitted from the speaker 290 can be a fluctuating sound obtained by applying a periodic fluctuation of approximately 40 Hz, corresponding to the frequency of a gamma wave, to various sound sources that serve as the base sound, similar to the first embodiment. A detailed explanation of the fluctuating sound would overlap with the explanation given in the first embodiment, so that explanation will be omitted here.

[0121] In step S220, if it is determined that the operating mode is the strong mode, the MCU 301 generates control commands in step S235 so that the operating state of the fan motor 230 and the rotary brush motor 307 is set to the value set for the strong mode. The MCU 301 then sends the generated control commands to the fan motor drive circuit 305 and the rotary brush motor drive circuit 306 to control the operation of the fan motor 230 and the rotary brush motor 307. The MCU 301 also reads sound data for fluctuating sound 2, which has a different base melody and tone from fluctuating sound 1, from the data holding unit 118, drives the speaker 290 via the speaker drive circuit 115, and generates fluctuating sound 2 from the speaker 290.

[0122] On the other hand, in step S210, if the battery level falls below the second battery level and it is determined that the battery level is low, the MCU 301 issues control commands to the fan motor drive circuit 305 and the rotary brush motor drive circuit 306 in step S240 to drive the fan motor 230 and the rotary brush motor 307 in accordance with the standard mode. In this case, the MCU 301 reads sound data for fluctuating sound 3, which has a different base tone melody and pitch from fluctuating sound 1 and fluctuating sound 2, from the data holding unit 118, drives the speaker 290 via the speaker drive circuit 115, and generates fluctuating sound 3 from the speaker 290.

[0123] After setting the operating mode and battery level as configured in steps S230 to S240, and generating the operating state and variable sound, the MCU 301 checks whether the power switch on the hand control unit 260 is OFF and whether the user has instructed the user to stop the operation. If the power switch remains ON, the MCU 301 returns to the process in step S205 and thereafter repeats the process described above (step S245).

[0124] On the other hand, if the power switch is turned OFF in step S245, the MCU 301 instructs the fan motor drive circuit 305 and the rotary brush motor drive circuit 306 to stop the operation of the fan motor 230 and the rotary brush motor 307. The MCU 301 also stops the fluctuating sound emitted from the speaker 290 via the speaker drive circuit 115 and stops the operation of the vacuum cleaner 2 (step S259).

[0125] The volume of the fluctuating sound generated in steps S230 to S240 should preferably be louder than the operating noise generated by the vacuum cleaner 2 in both the standard mode and the strong mode, so that it can be heard by the user. Furthermore, for example, the handheld control unit 260 may be configured to allow the user to eliminate the fluctuating sound or set it to an arbitrary volume.

[0126] In this embodiment, as described above, the melody and tone of the base sound used for the fluctuating sound generated in steps S230 to S240 are changed. As a result, the user can understand the set operating mode and the remaining battery level of the battery 240 by the fluctuating sound. The fluctuating sound does not need to be fixed according to the operating mode or battery level; for example, the base sound may be changed every time a predetermined amount of time has elapsed during operation, or according to the remaining battery level. Furthermore, since the user may frequently turn the power switch ON / OFF of the vacuum cleaner, the melody and tone of the base sound may be changed each time the power switch is turned ON / OFF, or according to the number of times it has been turned ON / OFF. In this way, it is possible to prevent the user from becoming bored by continuously listening to the same melody or tone of the fluctuating sound.

[0127] If the user frequently turns the power switch ON and OFF, the user may find it unpleasant if the fluctuating sound is generated and stopped each time the power switch is turned ON or OFF. Therefore, in step S250, the fluctuating sound may be made to continue for a short period of time, for example, 30 seconds, even after the power switch is turned OFF. In this case, since no operating noise is generated from the vacuum cleaner 2, it is advisable to reduce the volume of the fluctuating sound.

[0128] In this embodiment, as in the other embodiments described above, by generating a fluctuating sound in conjunction with the operation of the vacuum cleaner 2, the user passively hears the fluctuating sound mixed in with the operating noise generated by the movement of the vacuum cleaner 2's movable parts. Therefore, the user can listen to the fluctuating sound, which can provide gamma wave stimulation, while suppressing the occurrence of discomfort or unpleasantness. Furthermore, since the fluctuating sound is automatically emitted in conjunction with the operation of the vacuum cleaner 2, the user can listen to the fluctuating sound without any effort. In addition, because the fluctuating sound is generated over the operating noise, the discomfort caused by the operating noise can be mitigated.

[0129] Furthermore, similar to the second embodiment, it is also possible to generate a fluctuating sound using the operating sound generated by the vacuum cleaner 2 by varying the rotation speed of the fan motor 230 and the rotary brush motor 307, or by acquiring the operating sound from the microphone 105 and using a sound that cancels out the operating sound as a base sound.

[0130] In this embodiment, a stick-type vacuum cleaner was used as an example, but similar methods can be used to generate fluctuating noises in so-called canister-type and robot-type vacuum cleaners.

[0131] In the embodiments described above, washing machines and vacuum cleaners were used as examples of household electrical appliances, but the present invention is not limited to these products and can be applied to a variety of household electrical appliances. The present invention is particularly suitable for household electrical appliances that have moving parts powered by a motor and generate operating noise due to vibrations of the motor and moving parts during operation, such as air purifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators, microwave ovens, and electric fans.

[0132] Although the present invention has been described above using representative embodiments as examples, the present invention is not limited thereto and can be implemented in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention as described in the claims. Furthermore, the embodiments described above are explained in detail for the purpose of clearly illustrating the present invention and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. [Explanation of symbols]

[0133] 1: Washing machine, 2: Vacuum cleaner, 13: Control panel, 21: Outer tub, 22: Washing tub, 24: Rotary blade, 25: Motor, 26: Clutch mechanism, 36: Control board, 37: Speaker, 50: Operation unit, 51: Display unit, 101: MCU, 105: Microphone, 109: Motor drive circuit, 110: Clutch drive circuit, 115: Speaker drive circuit, 116: Display unit drive circuit, 117: Interface unit, 118: Data retention unit, 200: Main unit, 210: Dust collection unit, 230: Fan motor, 240: Battery, 260: Handheld control unit, 290: Speaker, 304: Battery level sensor, 305: Fan motor drive circuit, 306: Rotary brush motor drive circuit, 307: Rotary brush motor

Claims

1. Movable parts and A drive device for driving the aforementioned movable part, Sound generation unit, A control unit that controls the operation of the drive unit and generates a fluctuating sound having a periodic fluctuation corresponding to the frequency of gamma waves from the sound generating unit in conjunction with the operation of the drive unit, Household electrical appliances that have [a certain feature].

2. The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, further comprising an operating unit for receiving user operations, wherein the control unit is configured to control the magnitude of the fluctuating sound in accordance with user instructions input from the operating unit.

3. The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control the sound generating unit such that the volume of the fluctuating sound becomes louder than the operating noise generated by the operation of the drive unit and the movable part.

4. The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the sound generating unit is configured to generate the fluctuating sound by applying a periodic fluctuation corresponding to the frequency of the gamma wave to a base sound.

5. The household electrical appliance according to claim 4, wherein the control of the operation of the drive device includes a plurality of operation steps of different modes, and the control unit is configured to change the base tone according to the operation steps.

6. The household electrical appliance according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to change the base tone according to the elapsed operating time of the drive device.

7. The household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the household electrical appliance includes a rotating tub for accommodating items to be washed in the movable part, and the drive device includes a motor for rotating the rotating tub.

8. The household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the household electrical appliance is a vacuum cleaner that includes a fan that generates suction force in the movable part and the drive device includes a fan motor that drives the fan.

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