Washing machine and control method
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rapid development of display and input methods in intelligent washing machines has increased costs, making it difficult to popularize these appliances due to the need for control buttons, display screens, and peripheral circuits, which are costly to produce and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design that eliminates the need for control buttons and peripheral circuits by using an intelligent terminal for control and display, connected via a media interface, allowing the intelligent terminal to serve as both the control center and display module, reducing production and research costs while enabling easy upgrades and updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control buttons, display screens and peripheral circuits are provided in the washing machine, then the washing machine can perform intelligent control and display functions, but the production cost and development cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control and display functions from the washing machine body and relocates them to an external intelligent terminal (such as a smartphone). The washing machine retains only essential physical controls (power button, start/pause button) and a connecting interface for data communication. This extraction eliminates the need for expensive display screens, multiple control buttons, and complex peripheral circuits, thereby significantly reducing production costs while preserving intelligent control capabilities through the external terminal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the washing machine compatible with existing universal intelligent terminals (smartphones, tablets, PCs) that users already possess. By using a standard data communication interface, the washing machine can leverage the control and display capabilities of these universal devices. This approach avoids the need to develop and manufacture proprietary control panels and display screens, reducing development costs and enabling the washing machine to perform multiple intelligent functions through a single connecting interface.
2Ease of operation
If control buttons and display screens are integrated in the washing machine, then the washing machine can be operated independently, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system complexity is extracted from the washing machine and placed in the external intelligent terminal. The washing machine's control system is simplified to only include basic functions (power control, start/pause control) and a data communication interface. The complex control logic, user interface, and display functions are handled by the external terminal, which the user already operates familiarly. This maintains ease of operation while dramatically reducing device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a data communication interface as an intermediary between the washing machine and the external intelligent terminal. This interface enables bidirectional communication, allowing the terminal to send control commands to the washing machine and receive status information. The intermediary interface simplifies the washing machine's internal complexity by providing a standardized connection point while maintaining full operational capability through the external terminal's processing power and display.
3Illumination intensity
If a 7-inch TFT display screen and peripheral circuits are added to the washing machine, then the display and input functions are improved, but the self cost and development cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display function is completely extracted from the washing machine and relocated to the external intelligent terminal. The washing machine no longer requires its own display screen, eliminating the need for expensive TFT displays and their associated peripheral circuits (drivers, controllers, power management). The external terminal's high-quality display is used instead, providing excellent illumination and visual quality without adding cost to the washing machine itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the universal display capabilities of existing intelligent terminals (smartphones, tablets, PCs) to provide high-quality visual output. These devices already possess advanced display technology with excellent illumination and resolution. By making the washing machine compatible with these universal devices through a data communication interface, the patent provides superior display quality without incurring any additional cost for display hardware in the washing machine.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control buttons and display screens are provided, then the washing machine can display current states and accept user input, but the cost of peripheral circuits and developers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universal input capabilities of existing intelligent terminals (touch screens, keyboards, voice recognition) to provide diverse input methods for controlling the washing machine. The washing machine itself requires only minimal input mechanisms (power button, start/pause button) and a data communication interface. The external terminal handles all complex input processing, eliminating the need for multiple specialized control buttons and their associated development work. This approach provides versatile input capability while minimizing development cost.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a washing machine and a control method thereof. The washing machine is provided with a control panel and is further provided with a connecting part of an intelligent terminal; the connecting part is in data connection with the intelligent terminal and is used for controlling the washing machine by the intelligent terminal; and the control panel is of a panel structure which is not provided with a washing program control button, a display screen as well as a peripheral circuit for driving the display screen and the washing program control button. The washing machine provided by the present disclosure is simple and generous in appearance, easy to operate, capable of greatly reducing the production cost and also saving manpower and material resources and convenient to popularize.