CN117177698A

CN117177698A - Method and device for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance, camera and cleaning appliance

Info

Publication number: CN117177698A
Application number: CN202280030044.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 埃卡德·里登克劳
Original assignee: Miele und Cie KG
Current assignee: Miele und Cie KG
Priority date: 2021-04-22
Filing date: 2022-04-07
Publication date: 2023-12-05
Also published as: EP4326131A1; DE102021110179A1; WO2022223302A1

Abstract

A method for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance, the cleaning appliance comprising a camera (105) for capturing an interior of the cleaning appliance, the method comprising the steps of: reading an image signal (610) through an interface to the camera (105), the image signal (610) representing an image recorded by the camera (105); determining a drop signal (640) using the image signal (610), the drop signal (640) representing a characteristic of a drop shown in the image; and using the droplet signal (640) to provide an adjustment signal (615) for adjusting the drying process.

Description

Method and device for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance, camera and cleaning appliance

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method and a device for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance, a camera and a cleaning appliance.

Background

The cleaning procedure of a dishwasher involves a drying process in order to dry cleaned dishes.

Disclosure of Invention

The object to which the invention is directed is to create an improved method and an improved device for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance, an improved camera and an improved cleaning appliance.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method and a device for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance, a camera and a cleaning appliance having the features of the independent claims. Advantageous configurations and improvements of the invention result from the subsequent dependent claims.

Advantages that can be achieved by the present invention include that the drying process in the cleaning appliance can be shortened and improved. Customer satisfaction may thus be improved.

A method for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance having a camera for capturing an interior of the cleaning appliance comprises the steps of:

reading an image signal through an interface to the camera, the image signal representing an image recorded by the camera;

determining a drop signal using an image signal, the drop signal representing a characteristic of a drop shown in the image on a protective screen of the camera; and

the droplet signal is used to provide a conditioning signal for adjusting the drying process.

A cleaning appliance is understood as a dishwasher for cleaning items to be washed. The cleaning appliance may be configured to initiate a drying process after a cleaning process in which cleaning liquid is applied to the items to be washed. For example, the camera may be arranged on an inner side of a door of the cleaning appliance or on a wall of an interior of the cleaning appliance. The capture area of the image sensor of the camera can be directed inwards, i.e. the washing compartment of the cleaning appliance, through the protective screen. Thus, the protective screen borders the interior of the cleaning appliance or delimits the interior of the cleaning appliance from the camera area, thereby preventing penetration of cleaning liquid into the camera or camera housing. On the protective screen, i.e. on the outer side of the protective screen facing the interior of the cleaning appliance, droplets of cleaning liquid may be deposited, which cleaning liquid is used for cleaning items to be washed during the cleaning process. The camera may be used to monitor the drying process. To this end, the camera may record at least one image during the drying process. The progress of the drying process can be derived by evaluating the images and the further development of the drying process can be adjusted accordingly according to the currently determined progress. As long as droplets can still be detected on the protective screen using the image, it can be assumed that sufficient drying has not yet been performed.

Advantageously, the method can prevent that the items to be washed (depending on the material) are still wet or even still completely wet and must first be dried manually after the washing cycle. That is, the present invention can prevent customer dissatisfaction with the drying result. Using this method, small droplets inside the wash can be shown, although they are small. No expensive camera system is required for this purpose. Advantageously, the washing interior can be monitored by means of a camera and a corresponding image evaluation. Such a camera may be a camera which has additionally been used for cleaning procedures, in particular for cleaning and/or drying processes, for one or more additional sensing tasks, such as optical monitoring and evaluation of load levels and/or load types and/or pollution levels and/or types, and by means of information obtained therefrom, for example to improve washing performance and/or to increase ease of use.

The method may comprise the step of issuing an enabling signal to an interface to at least one light source for illuminating a protective screen of the camera. The light source may be enabled by an enable signal. Thus, the liquid droplets located on the protective screen can be better captured. Preferably there are several light sources for illuminating the protective screen of the camera, the light rays of which may be coupled laterally within the protective screen, for example by means of circumferential sides of the protective screen which surround the protective screen in an annular manner.

The method may comprise the step of issuing a deactivation signal to an interface of a wash compartment interior illuminator that is accessed to the cleaning appliance. In this regard, the washing compartment interior illuminator is not implemented by one or more light sources for illuminating the protective screen of the camera, but rather the washing compartment interior illuminator comprises one or more additional light sources. The wash compartment interior illuminator may be deactivated by a deactivation signal. In other words, in this case, the recording of the image takes place with the irradiation of the interior of the washing compartment of the cleaning appliance deactivated. Therefore, the illuminance of the droplet on the protective screen can be maximized, thereby improving the contrast between the droplet and the background. For example, these droplets present a bright circular area in front of a dark background.

The method may comprise the step of sending a cooling signal to an interface to a cooling device for cooling a protective screen of the camera. The cooling means may be activated by a cooling signal. This has the advantage that due to the cooling of the protective screen of the camera, condensation of liquid droplets on the protective screen of the camera is enhanced.

In the step provided, the method may evaluate the number of indicated droplets as a feature, additionally or alternatively the size of the indicated droplets, or in particular the ratio of the number of indicated droplets and the size. The adjustment signal can thus be determined. This makes it possible to evaluate the liquid droplets more accurately, and thus to evaluate the progress of the drying process more accurately.

In the reading step, a further image signal representing a further image recorded by the camera may be read by the camera. In the determining step, using the further image signal, a load signal may be determined, which represents the load type and/or number of cleaning appliances. In the providing step, a conditioning signal for conditioning the drying process may be provided using the load signal. Advantageously, the type and/or amount of load may thus be incorporated into the regulation of the drying process. In this regard, both the formation of the load and the droplet may be captured using the same camera. In this respect, the reading of the further image signal is preferably performed with the cleaning appliance's washing compartment interior illumination activated, but in this respect the light source for illuminating the protective screen of the camera light source is preferably deactivated.

A corresponding camera for capturing the interior of the cleaning appliance may comprise the protective screen and at least one light source configured to illuminate the protective screen.

By means of this light source, the capture of droplets can be improved relative to a camera without a corresponding light source. Capturing droplets by a camera on a protective screen can be cost effective despite the light source.

In this respect, the light source is arranged in particular outside the interior of the cleaning appliance and is oriented in particular such that the light emitted by the light source is coupled directly in the protective screen, i.e. does not pass through a part of the interior of the cleaning appliance. Unlike the optional and additional presence of a washing compartment interior illumination, the light source is not used for illuminating the interior of the cleaning appliance, but rather for illuminating the protective screen.

The camera may comprise cooling means for cooling the protective screen of the camera. This enhances the condensation of the droplets on the protective screen of the camera. The cooling means may be fully integrated in the camera or may be arranged partly outside the housing of the camera.

According to one embodiment, the cooling device may be configured as a fan. Such fans are cost effective.

The protective screen, and additionally or alternatively the housing of the camera, may include cooling fins. The cooling fin may improve cooling of the protective screen of the camera. Such fins increase the contact surface for the air flow for this purpose. Condensation of droplets on the protective screen may be more intense due to the improved cooling system.

Furthermore, the cooling device may be configured in an electrothermal manner. This can be achieved with a Peltier element and due to the small size of the Peltier element it is sufficient to provide a small construction space in the camera.

In a further embodiment, the cooling device may be configured as a water cooling device. This can be achieved with little effort, e.g. a small membrane pump allows a small water flow to circulate to the camera.

The device for adjusting the drying process in a cleaning appliance having a camera for capturing the interior of the cleaning appliance can perform the steps of the method in a corresponding unit.

The device may be configured to read an input signal and use the input signal to determine and provide an output signal. The input signal may represent, for example, a sensor signal that may be read through an input interface of the device. The output signal may represent a control signal or a data signal that may be provided at an output interface of the device. The apparatus may be configured to determine the output signal using a hardware or software implemented process specification. For example, the device may comprise logic circuits, integrated circuits or software modules for this purpose, and may for example be implemented as discrete components or be contained in discrete components.

The device may be implemented as part of a control means of, for example, a cleaning appliance or as part outside such a control means.

A corresponding cleaning implement with a camera may comprise such a device. The described method can thus advantageously be implemented in a cleaning appliance.

The cleaning appliance may include a door for closing an interior of the cleaning appliance and a heat sink. The camera may be secured to the door and the heat sink may be configured to dissipate waste heat from the camera onto the door. This is advantageous because the heat of the camera may have difficulty condensing the droplets on the protective screen.

Although the described method is described by a household appliance, the cleaning appliance described herein or the method described herein may be used in connection with industrial or professional appliances, for example cleaning or disinfecting appliances, respectively.

A computer program product or a computer program with a program code that can be stored on a machine readable carrier or storage medium, such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive memory or an optical memory, is also advantageous. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or device, the program product or program may be adapted to carry out, carry out and/or control the steps of a method according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments.

Embodiments of the present invention are depicted in the drawings by way of example only and will be described in further detail below.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a cleaning appliance with a camera according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a cleaning appliance with a camera according to further embodiments;

FIG. 3 shows a detailed schematic of a camera in a door of a cleaning appliance according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3A shows a schematic view of a cross section in a cutout area for a camera in a door of a cleaning appliance according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a detailed schematic view of a camera in a door of a cleaning appliance according to further embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a camera image with condensed droplets according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a control device of a cleaning appliance according to one embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a method for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance, according to one embodiment; and

fig. 8 shows a flow chart of a method for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance according to a further embodiment.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a cleaning appliance 100 with a camera 105 according to one embodiment. As an example, the cleaning appliance 100 is implemented as a dishwasher, which may perform a cleaning procedure with a drying process according to known dishwashers. The camera 105 is configured to capture the interior of the cleaning implement 100. The progress of the drying process may be monitored using the camera 105. Thereby, the drying process can be adjusted. For example, the drying process may be ended when the evaluation of the image of the camera indicates that sufficient drying has been performed, or may be prolonged when the evaluation of the image of the camera indicates that there is still excessive moisture inside the cleaning appliance.

As the camera 105, a camera that has been mounted in the cleaning appliance 100 can be used. Optionally a camera optimized to capture droplets or moisture may be used.

According to one embodiment, the cleaning appliance 100 includes a door consisting essentially of an outer door panel 115 and an inner door panel 120. According to one embodiment, there is an internal phase housing 125 in the door 110 of the cleaning appliance 100, and a protective screen 130 latches in a cutout in the internal door panel 120. As an example, the protection screen 130 is implemented as a camera protection screen made of transparent glass fiber reinforced plastic. The seal that exists between the protective screen 130 and the inner door panel 120 is not explicitly depicted in fig. 1. The camera 105 is in fact locked in the camera housing 125. In this regard, such a configuration and arrangement of the camera 105 is selected by way of example only.

Furthermore, in fig. 1, there are shown an intermediate spray arm 165, as well as a rear wall 135, a top support 145 and a bottom support 150, in each case with the washing interior of the items 155, 160 to be washed as a load.

For use, the user loads the items 155, 160 to be washed into the cleaning appliance 100 and initiates the cleaning procedure. The items 155, 160 to be washed are cleaned. After cleaning, a drying process is started. According to one embodiment, the droplet sensor is implemented with the camera 105, in particular based on reflection measurements or refraction measurements of the wash interior on an illuminated front screen in front of the camera 105. After image evaluation, the drying stage of the active cleaning procedure can be dynamically adjusted to the general wetting condition to achieve a better drying effect.

In fig. 1, image segments (bildbischnitt) 170 are marked around the camera 105, as will be described in further detail in fig. 3 and 4 below.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a cleaning appliance 100 with a camera 105 according to a further embodiment, which cleaning appliance 100 may be the cleaning appliance 100 described in fig. 1. Fig. 2 depicts a wash compartment interior illuminator 200. For example, the wash compartment interior illuminator 200 is opened when the door 110 is opened and for other applications of the camera 105. In the presently described application of the camera 105 for adjusting the drying process, instead, it is preferable to shut off the wash compartment interior illuminator 200. When recording images using the camera 105 for identifying droplets, the wash compartment interior illuminator 200 is preferably deactivated in order to maximize the image contrast between refraction on the droplets and the background.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed schematic of the camera 105 in the door 110 of the cleaning appliance 100 according to one embodiment. In this regard, it may be an image segment indicated by the cleaning implement 100 shown in FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 outlines a reasonable but optional enhancement of the hardware components of camera 105 for drop detection. According to one embodiment, a recess 301 is provided in the camera housing 125 for switching the light source 300 as desired, whereby a visible or infrared light ray 305 may be coupled laterally in the protective screen 130. In an optimized manner, the light rays 305 are coupled so that the effect of total internal (diffuse) reflection is achieved in the protective screen 130, i.e. in the case of an unwetted, clean protective screen 130, no coupled light passes through, which can be detected by the camera sensor 310.

According to an embodiment, the protective screen 130 comprises a first face 320 oriented towards the interior of the cleaning appliance 100, which first face 320 may be configured, for example, in a curved manner, for example in the form of a spherical cap. Toward the camera sensor 310, recessed relative thereto, the protective screen 130 includes a second face 330, the second face 330 being particularly configured equidistant from the first face 320. Toward the sides, the protective screen 130 is closed by a circumferential side 340, the circumferential side 340 connects the first face 320 and the second face 330, and the circumferential side 340 surrounds the protective screen 130 in an approximately annular manner. The side 340 includes one or more coupling portions 360, and light 305 from the light source 300 may be coupled into the protective screen 130 at the coupling portions 360. On one or more coupling portions 360, the side 340 comprises in particular a uniformly diffusing flat surface; for this purpose, the surface may be structured, for example, in a roughened manner, for example by means of sandblasting, etching or grinding. The light source 300 is oriented relative to the associated coupling portion 360 such that the principal axis of the light ray 305 or beam emitted by the light source 300 extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface of the coupling portion 360. Thus, as much light as possible is uniformly coupled into the protection screen 130. Preferably, the aperture angle 350 of the light rays 305, which are widened into light beams, is chosen on the one hand, and the arrangement of the light sources 300 with respect to the coupling portion 360 is chosen on the other hand such that the protective screen is illuminated by the light beams over at least almost the entire width of the protective screen between the first face 320 and the second face 330 when light is coupled into the protective screen 130.

For further illustration, for an embodiment corresponding to fig. 3, fig. 3A schematically shows a cross-sectional view in the region of the cutout 370 in the inner door panel 120. The protective screen 130 protrudes with the edge of its first face 320 over the cutout 370. Several, in this case 6, pairs of opposing light sources 300 emit light rays 305, which light rays 305 are coupled laterally in the protective screen 130 in a tangential direction relative to the first and second faces of the protective screen 130 by respective coupling portions 360. Thus, uniform illumination of the protection screen 130 can be achieved.

Fig. 4 shows a detailed schematic of the camera 105 in the door 110 of the cleaning appliance 100. In this regard, it may be an image fragment indicated by the cleaning implement 100 shown in FIG. 1 and the camera 105 depicted in FIG. 3.

If the protective screen 130 is wetted by water and moisture during the washing cycle, the droplets 400 remain on the protective screen 130 until the drying stage. These droplets 400 now cause a change in the refractive behavior of the protective screen 130, which in an ideal case results in a reflection 405 on the image sensor 310 of the camera 105, since the critical angle conditions are now modified.

In order to actively enhance the desired effect of condensation of droplets on the protective screen 130, it is suitable to cool the protective screen 130 directly or indirectly with the cooling device 410 shown schematically here. This can be achieved by a small fan. According to one embodiment, such a fan may be used in a coordinated manner for cooling the protective screen 130 of the camera 105 and for additional purposes, in particular for dehumidification of the automatic incorporation system of the cleaning appliance 100. Ideally, in this approach, the protective screen 130 and/or the camera housing 125 are supplemented with cooling fins that increase the contact surface for the airflow. Alternatively, active cooling may also be achieved by Peltier (Peltier) elements. In this regard, however, waste heat must be considered that is dissipated to the outer door panel 115 or even to the inner door panel 120 on the one hand. In the latter case, according to one embodiment, the distance to the camera cutout in the inner door panel 120 is maximized by simple thermal coupling, a so-called heat pipe, to avoid thermal back coupling and thus result in reduced efficiency. A third cooling possibility is to cool with fresh water, as long as the cleaning appliance 100 is not operated with a hot water connection. To this end, according to one embodiment, a small membrane pump is used to circulate a small water flow from a water chamber filled with cold fresh water, for example at the camera housing 125 to be cooled.

Fig. 5 shows a camera image of a condensed droplet 400 according to one embodiment. Camera images have been recorded, for example using a camera as described by the previous figures.

If the desired droplet condensation effect occurs on the protective screen of the camera, a camera image can be envisaged which is contrasted with fig. 5. To this end, the washing compartment internal illumination (typically one or more LEDs 200 arranged on the outer wall of the washing container) is advantageously deactivated in order to maximize the illumination of the liquid droplets 400 on the protective screen using the light source for illuminating the protective screen, thereby creating a contrast between the liquid droplets 400 and the background 500. Thus, the drop 400 is shown as a bright circular area before the other dark background 500. These regions may be captured and evaluated with a suitable image evaluation. For example, the size, form and/or number of regions are captured and evaluated for this purpose.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a control device 600 of a cleaning appliance according to one embodiment. For example, the control device 600 may be used in the cleaning appliance described by fig. 1 for connection with the camera 105, which is arranged or may be arranged inside the cleaning appliance. The control device 600 may be used to adjust the drying process of the cleaning appliance.

According to one embodiment, the control device 600 is connected to the camera 105 via an interface in the ready-to-use state and to the drying apparatus 605 via a further interface. The drying device 605 is configured to perform or control a drying process. The camera 105 is configured to record an image and provide an image signal 610 representing the image. Using the image signal 610, the control device 600 is configured to provide an adjustment signal 615 to the drying apparatus 605 for adjusting the drying process. For example, the adjustment signal 615 is adapted to extend the drying process, modify the drying performance of the drying process, or end the drying process.

According to one embodiment, the control device 600 comprises reading means 620, determining means 625, providing means 630 and optionally emitting means 635. The reading device 620 is configured to read the image signal 610. The determining means 625 is configured to determine a droplet signal 640 using the image signal 610, the droplet signal 640 representing characteristics of a droplet shown in an image on a protective screen of the camera 105. For example, drop signal 640 indicates the number and/or size of drops shown in the image. Providing means 630 is configured to use droplet signal 640 to provide an adjustment signal 615 for adjusting the drying process.

According to various embodiments, the optional transmitting device 635 is configured to emit an enable signal 645, a disable signal 650, and/or a cooling signal 655.

When the camera 105 comprises a light source 300 for illuminating a protective screen of the camera 105, according to one embodiment, the control device 600 is configured to issue an enabling signal 645 to an interface to the light source 300 to enable the light source 300 and thereby illuminate the protective screen of the camera 105. Advantageously, when the light source 300 is activated, the image is recorded by the camera 105.

When the cleaning appliance comprises a washing compartment internal illuminator 200 for illuminating the interior of the cleaning appliance, according to one embodiment, the control device 600 is configured to issue a deactivation signal 650 to an interface of the washing compartment internal illuminator 200 that is accessed to the cleaning appliance to deactivate the washing compartment internal illuminator 200. Advantageously, the image is recorded by the camera 105 while the wash compartment interior illuminator 200 is deactivated.

When the camera 105 comprises a cooling means 410 for cooling the protective screen, according to one embodiment, the control device 600 is configured to issue a cooling signal 655 to an interface to the cooling means 410 to activate the cooling means for cooling the protective screen of the camera 105. Thereby enhancing condensation of the droplets on the protective screen of the camera 105.

According to one embodiment, the control device 600 is configured to trigger recording of an image by the camera 105 or reading of the image signal 610 after issuing the enable signal 645, the disable signal 650 and the cool signal 655.

According to one embodiment, the reading means 620 is configured to read the further image signal 660 through an interface to the camera 105. The further image signal 660 represents a further image recorded by the camera 105. Advantageously, additional images are captured while the wash compartment interior illuminator 200 is activated and the light source 300 is deactivated. The determining means 625 is configured to use the further image signal 660 to determine the load type of the cleaning appliance or to determine a load signal 665 representative of the load type. For example, for this purpose, the quantity of items to be washed or the material of the items to be washed is determined. In this case, the providing means 630 is configured to provide an adjustment signal 615 for adjusting the drying process using the load signal 665.

Fig. 7 shows a flow chart of a method 700 for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance according to one embodiment. For example, the method 700 may be implemented, for example, in connection with a cleaning appliance, such as the cleaning appliance described by the preceding figures.

The method 700 involves a step 705 of reading an image signal through an interface to the camera, the image signal representing an image recorded by the camera. Furthermore, the method 700 involves a step 710 of determining a droplet signal using the image signal, the droplet signal representing a characteristic of the droplet shown in the image. In a provided step 715, a conditioning signal for conditioning the drying process is provided using the droplet signal.

The method 700 optionally involves a step 720 of issuing an enabling signal to an interface to a light source for illuminating a protective screen of the camera to enable the light source. In optional step 725, a deactivation signal is sent to an interface to the wash compartment interior illuminator of the cleaning appliance, thereby deactivating the wash compartment interior illuminator. In an issuing step 730, a cooling signal is issued to an interface to a cooling device for cooling a protective screen of the camera, thereby enabling the cooling device.

In particular, steps 705, 710 may be implemented to be repeated continuously in order to continuously obtain information about the current drying state. Depending on the current drying state, the drying process may be adjusted in step 715 to optimize the drying process, if appropriate. Alternatively, the continuously determined information about the drying state may be compared with each other, and in step 715, the drying process may be adjusted using the comparison result of the information about the drying state.

Alternatively, in case the reading step is performed, an additional image signal is read, and in case the determining step 710 is performed, the load signal is determined using the additional image signal. In this regard, the load signal is indicative of the type of load of the cleaning implement. In the step of providing, in this case, the load signal is used to determine and provide the adjustment signal.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart of a method for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance, according to one embodiment. The method may be implemented, for example, in combination with a cleaning appliance as described by the preceding figures. The method may represent an extension of the method steps described by fig. 7.

Block 800 specifies the following states: in this state, the cleaning appliance has finished cleaning the items to be washed, and now a drying phase is started in the cleaning appliance in order to dry the items to be washed.

For this purpose, active cooling is enabled in block 805 to cool the protective screen, so that condensation of droplets on the protective screen is enhanced. In the next step, in block 810, it is checked in the system of the cleaning appliance whether the user has activated accelerated drying.

If the user has enabled accelerated drying, active drying is enabled in block 815, and then periodic drop detection is initiated in block 820. If the user does not enable accelerated drying, then block 820 is skipped where periodic drop detection begins.

If the wash compartment internal illuminator is activated, the wash compartment internal illuminator is deactivated in block 825. The deactivation of the washing compartment interior illumination takes place, for example, by a deactivation signal which is emitted by the emission means to an interface to the washing compartment interior illumination.

In the next step, in block 830, a light source for illuminating the protective screen is activated. The activation of the light source is likewise controlled, for example, by means of a transmitting device, wherein the transmitting device in the control device of the cleaning appliance provides or emits an activation signal to an interface to the light source.

Then, in block 835, the camera image is recorded by the camera. After recording the camera image in block 835, the light source is again deactivated in block 840.

Next, block 845 is skipped. In block 845, the camera image is analyzed. In this respect, the average brightness, number or size of the bright areas, so-called spots, and the brightness distribution are determined in the histogram.

In block 850 it is checked in the system of the cleaning appliance whether the value has been reduced compared to the previous cycle and/or whether a change is still expected due to the information of the camera.

For this purpose, further information of the camera is provided from block 860 to block 850. This information includes, for example, the identified load level and the material, e.g., whether or not a cleaning appliance has an item to be washed made of plastic. If the value has been reduced or a change is still expected, after waiting a short period of time in block 855, the process jumps again to block 820. In block 820, periodic drop detection is started again and the camera image is created again.

If the value does not decrease or no change is expected, a jump occurs from block 850 to block 865. In block 865, a check is made as to whether the drop can still be identified. If no drop is identified, a jump to block 870 occurs, wherein active drying is disabled. Next, if active cooling is enabled prior to block 805, then the active cooling is disabled in block 875.

In block 880, the drying process in the cleaning appliance is ended and the user becomes feedback that the drying process has ended.

However, if it is determined in block 865 that a drop is still identified, a jump to block 885 occurs. In block 885, it is checked whether active drying is present. If active drying is not present, after waiting a short time at block 890, a jump to block 875 will occur. There, if active cooling is enabled prior to block 805, the active cooling is disabled. Then in block 880, the drying process is ended. If it is determined in block 885 that active drying is present, then in block 895 it is checked whether the user has enabled accelerated drying. If he/she has active drying enabled, a jump to block 870 occurs, and active drying is disabled in block 870. Thereafter, as described above, a jump to block 870, block 875, and block 880 occurs. However, if it is determined in block 895 that the user has not enabled accelerated drying, a jump to block 815 occurs where active drying is enabled. Thereafter, a jump to block 820 occurs, where periodic drop detection begins again. The method is then performed until the drying process ends in block 880.

From a process technology perspective, according to one embodiment, active cooling is enabled to assist in protecting condensation of droplets on the screen in block 805, either at or shortly before the drying stage begins. Periodically, in block 835, the image is recorded with the light source activated (block 830) but without the internal illuminator activated (block 825), and, for example, the average brightness, the number and/or size of bright areas, or the brightness distribution, etc. of the image in the histogram is determined, for example, in block 845. During the measurement all these values will drop as expected until no drop is identified anymore. In this case, after a small amount of time is added in block 855, the drying phase may be ended at the optimal time. Energy for the active drying device can thus be saved.

If the drop is still visible (block 865), the value is no longer changed or hardly changed as long as it has not already occurred from a procedural point of view, for example, active drying in the form of a blower and/or a heater can be incorporated in block 815, for example, in order to also remove the final moisture precisely.

If the user has selected a program option, such as "accelerated drying", at the beginning of the program, in which case the active drying unit may have been activated at the beginning of the drying phase of block 815 and may also be deactivated again in advance at the end of the drying identified by the sensor in block 870.

In cooperation with the known application cases related to cameras, by identifying the items (materials) to be washed and their expected heat capacity and/or load level, valuable additional information about the expected course of the drying phase and its optimization in block 860 can be collected already before the drying phase. Finally, in order to obtain a better drying effect, or to actually understand the problems that may occur in the drying phase and its influencing factors, it is appropriate to provide the user with information, even advice if applicable, on the display of the appliance or through the linked Miele-App.

Even without active cooling of the camera parts and without active drying equipment, a cost-effective implementation is possible, since in particular the time of a well-functioning drying phase is shortened, for example because no plastic is present, but the items to be washed, which are made of a material with a high heat capacity, are washed, so that the same work is ended in advance. The result of this is energy saving, but the user also prefers a shorter drying phase.

The integration of active cooling of the protective screen increases the efficiency of such dry sensors, as more moisture may condense.

As long as an active drying unit is present in the cleaning appliance, the use of the active drying unit can be enabled by the "accelerated drying" option of the unit at the beginning of the drying phase. This will first of all result in energy losses, but with the drying sensor presented herein the running time of the drying unit can be limited to a minimum. These aspects also promote the enhancement of customer value.

Claims

1. A method (700) for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance (100), the cleaning appliance (100) comprising a camera (105) for capturing an interior of the cleaning appliance (100), and the method (700) comprising the steps of:

-reading (705) an image signal (610) through an interface to the camera (105), the image signal (610) representing an image recorded by the camera (105);

-determining (710) a droplet signal (640) using the image signal (610), the droplet signal (640) representing a characteristic of a droplet shown in the image (400) on a protective screen (130) of the camera (105);

-providing (715) an adjustment signal (615) for adjusting the drying process using the droplet signal (640).

2. The method (700) according to claim 1, having the steps of: -issuing (720) an enabling signal (645) to an interface to a light source (300) for enabling the light source (300), the light source (300) being for illuminating the protective screen (130) of the camera (105).

3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, having the steps of: -issuing (725) a deactivation signal (650) to an interface of a washing compartment internal illuminator (200) to the cleaning appliance (100) to deactivate the washing compartment internal illuminator (200).

4. The method (700) according to any of the preceding claims, having the steps of: -issuing (730) a cooling signal (655) to an interface to a cooling device (410) for enabling the cooling device (410), the cooling device (410) being adapted to cool the protective screen (130) of the camera (105).

5. The method (700) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in the step of providing (715) the number and/or size of the shown droplets (400) is evaluated as the feature to determine the adjustment signal (615).

6. The method (700) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in the step of reading (705), a further image signal (660) is read through an interface to the camera (105), the further image signal (660) representing a further image recorded by the camera (105), in the step of determining (710) a load signal (665) is determined using the further image signal (660), the load signal (665) representing a type of load of the cleaning appliance, and in the step of providing (715) the adjustment signal (615) for adjusting the drying process is provided using the load signal (665).

7. A camera (105) for capturing an interior of a cleaning appliance (100), the camera (105) comprising the following features:

a protective screen (130); and

-at least one light source (300), the at least one light source (300) being configured to illuminate the protective screen (130).

8. The camera (105) according to claim 7, the camera (105) having a cooling device (410) for cooling the protective screen (130) of the camera (105).

9. The camera (105) of claim 8, wherein the cooling device (410) is configured as a fan, and the protective screen (130) and/or housing (125) of the camera (105) comprises cooling fins.

10. The camera (105) of claim 8 or 9, wherein the cooling device (410) is configured electrokinetically.

11. The camera (105) of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the cooling device (410) is configured as a water cooling device.

12. A control device (600) for adjusting a drying process in a cleaning appliance (100), wherein the cleaning appliance (100) comprises a camera (105) for capturing an interior of the cleaning appliance (100), and wherein the control device (600) is configured to perform the steps of the method (700) according to any of the preceding claims in a respective unit.

13. A cleaning appliance (100) for cleaning items to be washed, the cleaning appliance (100) having a camera (105) for capturing an interior of the cleaning appliance (100) and having a control device (600) according to claim 12.

14. The cleaning appliance (100) according to claim 13, the cleaning appliance (100) having a door (110) for closing an interior of the cleaning appliance (100) and having a heat dissipating device, the camera (105) being fastened to the door (110), and the heat dissipating device being configured to dissipate waste heat from the camera (105) to the door (110).

15. A computer program product with computer code for performing the method (700) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when the computer program product is executed on a control device (600) according to claim 12.