EP1793723A1

EP1793723A1 - Method for detecting the load of items to be washed, and dishwasher machine

Info

Publication number: EP1793723A1
Application number: EP05762992A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Egbert Classen; Helmut Jerg
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2004-07-23
Filing date: 2005-07-20
Publication date: 2007-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-20
Also published as: US20070181162A1; PL1793723T3; US20100294311A1; DE102004035847A1; EP1793723B1; CN100548205C; US7927427B2; CN1988839A; ES2402858T3; KR20070039489A; WO2006015934A1; US7842137B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining the type and/or quantity of items to be washed (30) in a dishwasher machine (1). According to said method, the items to be washed (30) are placed in compartments (3, 4) in the washing region (2) of the machine, the loading of said compartments (3, 4) being detected by an image detection system (31, 32, 33). Said image detection system (31, 32,33) measures distances between items in a contactless manner by means of the speed of light in order to obtain a three-dimensional image of the rinsing region (2).

Description

Method for detecting the loading of goods and

dishwasher

The invention relates to a method for detecting the Spülgutbeladung in a dishwashing machine, in which the items to be washed is placed in Spülgutaufnahmen in the washing compartment of the device, wherein the loading of Spülgutaufnahmen is detected by a Bildfassungssys¬ system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a dishwasher for Durchfüh¬ tion of the method.

Program-controlled and especially used in the household dishwashers can be operated energy-saving by the power and water consumption is set in relation to the amount of dishes loaded for washing in the Spülgutaufnahmen dishes or items.

For example, it is known from EP 0 943 287 A1 to arrange electromagnetic waves and / or sound wave-detecting sensors in a large distance from one another, in particular on a room diagonal, in the washing container of the appliance, the transmitters each being associated with the light signals or acoustic signals Send out signals. If the sender now sends out signals, these are partially reflected by the loaded items to be washed and / or possibly reach the receiver (sensor) with a time delay. The temporal evaluation of the signals received by the sensors then provides information about the arrangement of the items to be washed or the quantity of dishes. The respectively ascertained amount of dishes or load of items to be washed is registered and a washing program treating this items to be washed is influenced in its course. This can be done for example by a charge corresponding to the supply of rinsing liquid in the washing and by adapted to the loading heating of the rinsing liquid.

A disadvantage of this arrangement is the fact that lying in the transmission beam of the signal generator dishes reflect and deflect the electromagnetic waves or sound waves emitted by the transmitters, whereby optionally behind it positioned wülgut in the dish rack despite diagonal orientation of transmitter and receiver is not accurately detected. The load detection is therefore inaccurate and also provides only a two-dimensional image of the loading of Spülgutaufnahmen. DE 100 48 081 A1 further discloses for detecting the Spülgutbeladung on the type and quantity in the washing and / or on the side facing the washing container side of the door one or more separate image capture or image capture systems and one or more lighting devices to provide. The image acquisition systems can be designed in the manner of commercially available black and white and / or color miniature cameras (mini-cameras).

The disadvantage of this arrangement is that camera systems of the type mentioned are expensive and not designed for use in water leading devices per se. Zu¬ addition, a sufficiently strong lighting in the washing compartment must be provided, which creates sufficient for the image acquisition system brightness for receiving the washing compartment. In addition, with the proposed system, only a zweidimensi¬ onal image of the items positioned in the wash compartment can be generated.

For detecting the load of a dishwasher, the use of an optical scanning device in the manner of a laser scanner is known, which is arranged for Spülguterfassung before the Spülraumöffnung. With the laser scanner, information about the type of crockery parts is derived by image-wise recording of the items to be washed, corresponding signal patterns being generated by the scanner and given to the program controller. The loading quantity is determined by counting the dishes loaded in the washing container. Such a dishwasher is described in DE 100 48 086.

A similar principle is used by EP 1 192 893 A2, in which a light curtain is arranged in the flushing chamber opening, it being possible to conclude the course of the light interruptions on the dish load of the flushing container produced in this way.

From DE 101 62 505 A1 finally the use of a camera is known, with the dishes with particularly stubborn staining to be detected, then to subject these dishes a more intensive cleaning.

As alternative sensors so-called photonic mixer devices (PMD) are known, which can determine three-dimensional distance images. Such photonic mixer devices or photonic mixer devices are described in DE 197 04 496 A1. In order to and / or amplitude information of an electromagnetic wave, a pixel of a photonic mixing element has at least two photosensitive modulation onsphotogates and associated accumulation gates. Gate voltages are applied to the modulation photogates, while a DC voltage is applied to the accumulation gates. The charge carriers generated in the space charge zone of the modulation photogates by an incident electromagnetic wave are exposed to the potential gradient of a drift field as a function of the polarity of the gate voltages and drift to the corresponding accumulation gate. Photomix detectors of the type described in this document are used in automotive-related applications, for example, in order to detect imminent collisions from the three-dimensional images of the environment and to initiate countermeasures.

The invention has for its object to provide a method and a dishwasher, with which loaded in the dishwasher ware can be optimally recognized by type and amount.

These objects are achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a dishwasher with the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments emerge in each case from the dependent claims.

In the method according to the invention for determining the type and / or quantity of a washware in a dishwashing machine, an image acquisition system is used which measures distances without contact via the speed of light in order to obtain a three-dimensional image of the washroom. The particular advantage of this procedure is that the evaluation of a three-dimensional image which, in particular, takes into account the removal of the respective items to be cleaned, makes it possible to obtain a more reliable picture of the product loadings than is the case with the methods known from the prior art Case is in which only a zweidimensiona¬ les image of Spülgutbeladung can be generated.

The image acquisition system of the dishwasher according to the invention has at least one transmitter which emits modulated electromagnetic waves and at least one photosensitive pixel element which is arranged in the washing compartment and / or on the side of the appliance door facing the washing container, and furthermore an evaluation unit which - A -

from the running time of the electromagnetic waves a three-dimensional image of the Spül¬ space determined.

The photosensitive pixel elements are preferably so-called PMD pixel elements known in the art, e.g. DE 197 04 496 C2, are known. Such a pixel element is able to measure distances without contact by means of the speed of the light in order to determine three-dimensional images therefrom. The environment is illuminated with ultra-fast pulsed electromagnetic waves. These serve as a time reference and are invisible to the human eye. The photo-sensitive pixel elements comprise a photodiode with two outputs, which read out the reflected light alternately at a very high clock rate and thus calculate information about the transit time of the electromagnetic waves. The different distances of the "illuminated" items to be cleaned can be deduced from the different running times An image acquisition system constructed in this way can be integrated in a single chip and can be inexpensively manufactured using conventional CMOS semiconductor manufacturing processes In contrast to an image acquisition system which is based on a miniature camera, high-performance illumination can be dispensed with, as a result of which the energy consumption can be reduced in an advantageous manner.

Depending on the arrangement of the imaging system in the washing compartment, a plurality of photosensitive pixel elements, e.g. in the arrangement of an array.

It is advantageous to assign at least each washware receptacle to one or more image capture systems (s) which separately detect the washware load of each of the washware receptacles.

In a further expedient refinement, it is provided that an image acquisition system can also be assigned to the sieve for collecting soiling residues. Upon detection of debris in the screen, a signal e.g. for the user

Dishwasher is recognizable, issued to a cleaning of the screen display. This ensures that the cleaning performance of the dishwashing machine is best possible in every rinsing process.

The arrangement of the image acquisition systems is preferably carried out diagonally with respect to the baskets in order to be able to correctly record, if possible, all dishes or items to be washed introduced in the respective baskets. Optionally, it may be advantageous to associate a plurality of imaging systems with a respective crockery basket to ensure that hidden areas for an imaging system are captured by the or one of the other imaging systems.

According to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, the image acquisition system transmits modulated electromagnetic waves into the washing compartment and reads out the reflected waves in order to obtain information about the travel time of the electromagnetic waves, wherein the readout of the reflected waves takes place via a sensor with two outputs , which are alternately read by an evaluation unit.

According to a further expedient embodiment, the image-wise detection of the loading of the washing compartment on the type and amount before starting a program started by a user wash program. After the loading of the respective dish racks has been determined by the image acquisition system, the dosing of the rinsing agent and the rinsing liquid and the degree of their heating can take place depending on this. If the upper and lower rinsing baskets are loaded to a different extent, a larger amount of rinsing liquid could also be supplied to the more heavily laden rinsing basket. Exact knowledge of the loadings of the items to be washed enables a needs-based control of a particular washing program.

In a further expedient embodiment, the determination of the type and / or the amount of the items to be washed takes place at certain intervals in order to determine a change in the items to be washed in the items to be washed and to initiate an automatic start of the dishwasher when a predetermined assignment of the items to be washed is detected. At the same time, a dishwashing program adapted to the washware load is selected and executed by the dishwasher. The intervention of a user is unnecessary thereby. The detection of the items to be washed can take place during insertion into the washing compartment or when loading the items to be washed. For this purpose, the image acquisition system could be arranged on the side of the appliance door facing the washing compartment or on the upper side of the washing compartment. According to another embodiment, the image-wise detection of the washing compartment is carried out in dishes placed in the Spülgutaufnahmen. This can be done, for example, after each closing of the appliance door. As a result, the automatic start of the dishwashing machine is made possible. The automatic start does not necessarily have to take place only when all the storage facilities provided for this purpose in the dishwashing baskets are filled with items to be washed, but can take place as a function of the washware detected by the image detection system. Thus, for example, in the detection of predominantly glass ware, a largely complete load could be defined as a starting criterion, while a smaller number of pots or bowls could already lead to an automatic start at a lower load. In other words, the automatic start and the choice of the wash program can be made dependent on what type of items to be washed in the dishwasher and, optionally, how the degree of soiling of respective items to be washed, which can also be determined by the image capture system.

In an expedient embodiment, the comparison image generated by a fully loaded dishwashing machine and stored in a memory unit of the device in a memory is compared with the imagewise detected actual loading of the washroom and the comparison result is used as a measure for the automatic program start and the ge ¬ suitable dishwashing program of the dishwasher used.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a rinsing program is influenced as a function of the information determined by the image acquisition system. This could be done depending on the ware detected in the dishwasher. Thus, different materials require a different dosage of rinsing agent, if appropriate a different temperature response and a different amount of water.

In a further advantageous refinement, the image acquisition system is used to detect a sieve of the dishwasher which has been left with contamination residues. The invention will be explained in more detail in an embodiment with reference to the single figure. This shows a dishwasher 1 in cross section.

The dishwashing machine 1 according to the invention has a washing container 2, in which dishware 3, 4, which are to be cleaned, for example in the form of plates, pots, cutlery, etc., are usually placed in dishwashing containers 3, 4. Two sprayers 5,6 are arranged in the washing container 2 to pressurize the material to be cleaned 30 with rinsing liquid. The rinsing liquid is conveyed by means of a circulating pump 7 into liquid supply lines 8, 9 to the spraying devices 5, 6.

Usually, the rinsing liquid conveyed in dishwashers 1 is heated at least in a partial program section of a rinsing program, for which purpose a through-flow heater 10 is used. The conveyed rinsing liquid is passed from the circulating pump 7 to a supply nozzle 11 of the through-flow heater 10 and through the flow heater 10. Die¬ ser has at least two outlet ports 12,13, of which the liquid is supplied via liquid supply lines 8,9 the respective spraying devices 5,6. In the water heater 10, a heater, not shown here is arranged.

In order to measure the washware loading of the dishwashing baskets 3, 2, image capture systems 31, 32, 33 are arranged within the wash chamber 2. Each of the image acquisition systems 31, 32, 33 has at least one transmitter which transmits modulated electromagnetic waves and at least one photosensitive pixel element. The image recording systems 31, 32, 33 are arranged in the washing compartment 2 and / or on a cooking door (not shown in the figure). Furthermore, the image acquisition systems 31, 32, 33 are connected via respective lines 36, 37, 38 to an evaluation unit 35. The evaluation unit 35 is capable of determining a three-dimensional image of the washing compartment from the travel time of the electromagnetic waves since the transmission by the transmitter and the reception of the reflected waves by the receiver, and thus in particular the loading of the respective dishwashing baskets 3, 4 , On the basis of the three-dimensional image determined by a respective image acquisition system 31, 32, 33 and an evaluation of the determined images in the evaluation unit 35, which can follow, for example, by comparison with previously stored reference images, the type and / or quantity of the items to be washed can be determined ascertain in the dish baskets 3.4. The photosensitive pixel elements are preferably designed as PMD pixel elements (photochemical detectors). The mode of operation of these PMD pixel elements is known from the prior art and described in particular in DE 197 04 496 C2, so that reference is made to this document for more detailed technical details, the content of which is explicitly explained as part of this description.

The image acquisition systems 31, 32, 33 are preferably distributed over the inside of the walls 2, 15, which delimit the dishwashing chamber 2, and the top side of the dishwashing area 2 is distributed. In particular, both the upper crockery basket 3 and the lower crockery basket 4 are each assigned a separate image capturing system, which can each consist of a plurality of the above-mentioned photosensitive pixel elements. The Bildfassungs¬ system 31,32 are preferably positioned so that a comprehensive picture of the Spül¬ good in the respective baskets crockery 3,4 is possible. Furthermore, each dish rack could be assigned a plurality of image acquisition systems, wherein the three-dimensional images determined by the image acquisition systems can be linked and evaluated by the evaluation unit 35.

The image acquisition system 33 is associated with a screen 17, which serves to catch dirt residues during the course of a wash program. Since the cleaning performance of a dishwashing machine decreases with the screen increasingly occupied, a signal that can be recognized by the user can be output by means of the image capture system 33, informing him of the cleaning of the screen 17.

Depending on at what intervals or at what times an activation of the image acquisition systems takes place, an automatic program start of the dishwashing machine can be realized. Thus, the detection of the Spülgutbeladung could take place, for example after je¬ weigem closing the door to decide whether a sufficient loading of the washing compartment already exists. De automatic program start can be made dependent both on the amount of items to be washed in the dishwasher and on the type in the baskets of the stored items. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 dishwasher

2 rinse tanks

3 crockery basket

4 crockery basket

5 spraying device

6 spraying device

7 circulation pump

8 fluid supply line

9 fluid supply line

10 instantaneous water heaters

11 inlet nozzle

12 outlet ports

13 outlet nozzle

15 wall

16 wall

17 sieve

30 dishes

31 image capture system

32 image capture system

33 image capture system

35 evaluation unit

36 line

37 line

38 line

Claims

claims

1. A method for determining the type and / or amount of a ware (30) in a dishwasher (1), wherein the items to be washed (30) in Spülgutaufnahmen (3,4) in the washing compartment (2) of the device is stored, the Loading the Spülgutaufnah- (3,4) is detected by an image acquisition system (31,32,33), characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the image acquisition system (31,32,33) via the speed of light without contact measures distances to a three-dimensional Image of Spül¬ room (2) to obtain.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the Bildfassungssys¬ tem (31,32,33) modulated electromagnetic waves in the washing compartment (2) aussen¬ det and the reflected waves to read information about the duration of e- lektromagnetischen waves wherein the read-out of the reflected waves via a sensor with two outputs, which are read out alternately by a Auswer- teeinheit (35).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the image-wise detection of the loading of the washing compartment (2) on the type and quantity before the start of a user started by a wash program.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the determination of the type and / or the amount of the ware (30) takes place at certain intervals to a change of the items to be washed (30) in the Spülgutaufnah¬ men (3,4) to determine and to cause an automatic start of the dishwasher (1) upon detection of a predetermined occupancy of Spülgutaufnahmen.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection of the items to be washed (30) during insertion into the washing compartment (2) or loading the Spülgutaufnahmen (3,4) takes place.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the image-wise detection of the washing compartment (2) in the Spülgutaufnahmen (3,4) deposited Spülgut (30).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by a fully loaded dishwasher (1) and in a Auswer¬ teeinheit (35) of the device stored in a memory comparison image with the bild¬ moderately detected actual loading of the washing compartment (2) is compared and the comparison result is used as a yardstick for the automatic program start and the suitable dishwashing program of the dishwasher.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rinsing program is influenced in dependence of the information determined by the image acquisition system (31,32,33).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is used to detect a sieve (17) of the dishwasher (1) which is coated with dirt residues.

10. Dishwasher for rinsing items to be stored in items to be washed in a wash cabinet with at least one image detection system (31, 32, 33), characterized in that the image detection system (31, 32, 33) transmits at least one transmitter that transmits modulated electromagnetic waves, and at least one photosensitive pixel element which is arranged in the washing compartment (2) and / or on the side of the appliance door facing the washing compartment and an evaluation unit (35) which generates a three-dimensional image of the time of the electromagnetic waves Spülraums (2) determined.

11. Dishwasher according to claim 10, characterized in that it is the PMD pixel elements in the photosensitive pixel elements.

12. Dishwasher according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that at least each Spülgutaufnahme (3,4) an image acquisition system (31,32,33) zuge¬ is assigned.

13. Dishwasher according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized gekennzeich¬ net, that the sieve (17) for collecting dirt residues Bildfas¬ a system (33) is associated.