Design of an improved fuzzy controller microchip for washing machine : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Mechatronics at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

Washing machines are today a common household requirement. Wash time is one of the key factors that need to be taken into account in a design of a washing machine. Washing machines which do not use fuzzy controller serves most purposes of washing function but wash time is somewhat not dealt properly. This study describes the full architectural (both circuitry and physical layout) design of an improved washing machine controller microchip that uses fuzzy logic approach to specifically deal with the wash time in a much more efficient manner. Recent research shows that fuzzy logic approach responds much faster than any other conventional technique. This fuzzy logic controller microchip for washing machine has 36 Input/Output (I/O) pins including two Vdd and two Vss. On chip fuzzification, Fuzzy Inference Engine, Defuzzification, ROM-based Fuzzy sets and MIN-MAX array-based Fuzzy rules are the salient features of the design. With full Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) interface, it is suitable as a co-processor.