EP3228234B1 - Water-conducting domestic appliance and method for operating a water-conducting domestic appliance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a water-conducting household appliance, such as a dishwasher, and a method for operating a water-conducting household appliance.

Users of dishwashers have an interest in that the items to be washed after the rinsing process is as dry as possible, so that it can be immediately removed from the dishwasher and cleaned up. Conventional dishwashers therefore provide a drying step as the last part of the washing program in which the dishes can drip off and dry. How effective this drying process is depends largely on the ventilation of the washing compartment. Therefore, in conventional dishwashers a door opening assistant or a door module may be provided. Such a door module is for example in DE 10 2012 207 836 A1 described.

This door module opens the door automatically when actuated by a control unit. For the advantageous drying, it is sufficient to open the door a crack. Here, the lock of the door is triggered and a spring-rope system, the opening of the door is stopped when the desired gap size is reached.

The document DE 10 2005 062 472 A1 shows a dishwasher with a self-closing mechanism for locking the door and method for operating the dishwasher. The self-closing mechanism has at least one electrically controllable transmission member, which is able to spend the door from the closed position to the operating position and / or vice versa.

The document DE 10 2005 028 449 B4 describes a dishwasher with a washing container, which can be closed by a door, and a method for carrying out a washing program in such a dishwasher.

The document DE 10 2014 114 652 A1 shows a household appliance and a method of opening this. In the method, a presence of at least a part of a person within a predetermined area of the door and out of contact with the door is detected. In response to the detected presence, the door is automatically opened.

The document EP 2 824 231 A1 shows a household appliance with a treatment chamber for receiving an article for treatment according to an automatic duty cycle. The treatment chamber has an open side, a door for selectively closing the open side of the treatment chamber, and a sensor configured to detect a user at a predetermined location relative to the home appliance and provide a signal based thereon to an actuator, which is coupled with the door.

Against this background, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved water-conducting household appliance.

Accordingly, a water-conducting household appliance with a washing chamber formed by a washing container and a pivotable door for washing dishes, a door module for automatically opening and closing the door and a control device is proposed. The control device is configured to control the door module to close the door in the presence of a user detected in a certain area in front of the household appliance and to control the door module to open the door in a detected absence of the user in the particular area.

If the user is detected, the door module closes the door. Upon detected absence of the user, the door module can open the door. Thus, the door module is set up for automatic ventilation of the washing container. For example, in the loading phase of a dishwasher or a drying phase of the dishwasher, it is advantageous that the door is open. However, a user present could be disturbed by escaping from the rinse tank odors. For this reason, it is advantageous that the door module closes the door at a detected presence of the user, so that the user is not disturbed by unpleasant odors from the washing, and opens in the detected absence of the user, the door for automatic ventilation of the washing , In addition, this avoids the danger that the user or another person is knocking on the door. Furthermore, a disturbance of the aesthetic appearance is avoided.
The particular area is determined, for example, by a monitoring area of a detector for detecting the presence and absence of the user in front of the door of the household appliance. The detector can be mounted on the household appliance. The detector may also be arranged externally to the household appliance in the vicinity of the location of the household appliance and via a communication link with the Household appliance, in particular with the control device of the household appliance, be connected. The communication connection is formed, for example, wirelessly via radio.

The specific area can also be determined by a room where the household appliance is installed. When a user enters the room, the door module closes the door of the household appliance. When the user leaves the room again, the door module can in turn open the door for automatic ventilation of the washing compartment.

In particular, the user can activate and deactivate the function of the automatic ventilation of the washing container. For this purpose, the household appliance may include a correspondingly adapted user interface for activating and deactivating the function of the automatic ventilation of the washing compartment.

According to one embodiment, the control device is adapted to control the door module for automatic ventilation of the washing container.

The automatic ventilation of the washing container is advantageous, for example, in a dishwasher, in particular during a loading phase and also during a drying phase. For automatic ventilation of the washing container, the door module opens the door by a predetermined gap. Depending on the application, it is also possible that the door module can open the door in different ways with different opening angles.

According to a further embodiment, the domestic appliance comprises a user interface with an input means for inputting an activation command for activating the function of the automatic ventilation of the washing container by a user. In this case, the control device is adapted to activate the door module for automatic ventilation of the washing compartment in response to the activation command.

The input means can be designed as a haptic input means, for example as a rotary knob or a push-button. The input means can also be designed as a touch element on a touch screen of the user interface of the household appliance. Preferably, the user can perform the function of automatic ventilation of the Not only activate and deactivate the rinse container, but also predetermine activation with a specific or defined period of time. In the latter case, the automatic ventilation of the washing container is activated only for the specific or defined period of time and then automatically deactivated.

The control device is configured to control the door module in the presence of a first signal level of a detection signal such that it closes the door, and to activate the door module in the presence of a second signal level of the detection signal, that this opens the door. The detection signal is indicative of the presence of the user in the particular area.

The first signal level indicates that the user is present in the particular area. The second signal level indicates that no user is present in the particular area. For example, for this purpose, an amplitude-shift keying can be used, in particular an on-off keying (OOK), in which the first signal level is formed by a logic 1 and the second signal level by a logical 0. For example, in the case of a voltage signal, the logic 1 may be formed by a voltage value of 1.5 volts, wherein the logic 0 is formed by a voltage value of 0 volts. These details of the voltage values are purely exemplary.

According to a further embodiment, the control device is arranged to control the door module in the presence of a first signal level of a detection signal, which is indicative of the presence of the user in the particular area, to close the door, and the door module The presence of a second signal level of the detection signal and after the expiry of a triggered by the second signal level of the detection signal timer such that it opens the door. In this embodiment, the door module closes the door when the presence of the user is detected. If the absence of the user is detected, this absence triggers a predetermined timer of, for example, 1 minute, with the door module, after the expiration of that timer, in turn opening the door for automatic ventilation of the washing compartment. The use of the timer is advantageous here since a user can enter and leave the designated area at short intervals. If, as in the example above executed, the particular area of the installation space of the household appliance, so it is possible that the user enters and leaves the show room often within an example of a minute. To prevent unnecessary opening and closing of the door within this minute, it is advantageous to use the timer.

According to a further embodiment, the control device is arranged to control the door module in the presence of a first signal level of a detection signal, which is indicative of the presence of the user in the particular area, to close the door, and the door module Presence of a second signal level of the detection signal and after the expiry of a triggered by the second signal level of the detection signal timer such that it opens the door and closes after a certain period of time again.

In this embodiment, the door module has the additional functionality to close the open door after the expiration of the specific period of time. The specific period of time is set in particular to an expected value, at which a sufficient ventilation of the washing compartment is expected. For example, the specific period of time is between two and 48 hours.

According to another embodiment, the first signal level is a positive logical signal level, whereas the second signal level is a negative logical signal level.

As already stated above, an on-off keying can be used in this case, the positive logical signal level being represented by a logical 1 and the negative logical signal level by a logical 0.

According to a further embodiment, the household appliance comprises a detector for providing the detection signal.

In this embodiment, the detector is part of the household appliance and mounted, for example, on the door or in a base region of the household appliance.

According to a further embodiment, the detector comprises a motion detector, an infrared motion detector, an RF sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a Doppler radar sensor, a microphone and / or an image recognition device.

Depending on the requirements of the size, positioning and / or cost of the detector, the advantageous variant can be selected. In particular, an image recognition device moreover offers the possibility of identifying a person in the room and of carrying out further control functions in dependence thereon.

According to a further embodiment, the detector is attached to the door, integrated in a door leaf of the door, arranged in a base of the household appliance or integrated in a control panel of the door.

Thus, while retaining the function, the detector can be used both in freestanding and semi- or fully integrated dishwashers, or several detectors can be used at different positions, each with different detection ranges and / or detection properties. The use of multiple detectors may be advantageous if initially only a first detector, e.g. a motion detector is permanently active. Once this senses movement in a particular area, a second detector, e.g. an image recognition unit. This advantageously makes it possible that complex and energy-intensive detectors do not have to be permanently activated, which can save power.

According to a further embodiment, the household appliance comprises a receiver for receiving the detection signal from an external detector, which can be coupled to the receiver via a communication connection, for providing the detection signal.

The receiver is for example a radio receiver and the communication connection thus a wireless communication connection, eg Wifi. The external detector is arranged for example in the installation space of the household appliance and transmits the detection signal to the receiver upon detection of a presence of the user in the installation room. The receiver forwards the received and possibly demodulated Detection signal to the control device on, which then can control the door module accordingly.

According to another embodiment, the communication connection is a wireless communication connection or a wired communication connection.

The wireless communication connection is in particular a radio communication connection, for example a Wifi communication connection or WLAN communication connection. The wired communication link is, for example, a LAN communication link.

According to a further embodiment, the door module comprises a door opening and closing mechanism and a drive for actuating the door opening and closing mechanism.

According to a further embodiment, the control device is set up to carry out a number of wash programs for washing the items to be washed in the wash container.

In particular, a rinsing program comprises one or more of the following phases: pre-rinsing, cleaning cycle, intermediate rinsing, rinsing and / or drying cycle. In different rinsing programs, the phases can be designed differently.

According to a further embodiment, the household appliance is a dishwasher, a washing machine, a dryer, in particular a tumble dryer, or a steamer.

• Anzusteuern des Tür-Moduls zum Schließen der Tür bei einer detektierten Anwesenheit eines Nutzers in einem bestimmten Bereich vor dem Haushaltsgerät, und
• Anzusteuern des Tür-Moduls zum Öffnen der Tür bei einer detektierten Abwesenheit des Nutzers in dem bestimmten Bereich.

Furthermore, a method for operating a water-conducting household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, proposed. The household appliance comprises a washing chamber formed by a washing container and a pivotable door for washing dishes and a door module for automatically opening and closing the door. The method comprises the following steps:

• To control the door module to close the door in the presence of a user detected in a certain area in front of the household appliance, and
• Driving the door module to open the door in the event of a detected absence of the user in the particular area.

Furthermore, a computer program product is proposed, which causes the execution of the method as explained above on a program-controlled device.

A computer program product, such as a computer program means may, for example, be used as a storage medium, e.g. Memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM, DVD, or even in the form of a downloadable file provided by a server in a network or delivered. This can be done, for example, in a wireless communication network by transmitting a corresponding file with the computer program product or the computer program means.

The embodiments and features described for the proposed water-conducting household appliance apply accordingly to the proposed method.

Further possible implementations of the invention also include not explicitly mentioned combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments. The skilled person will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine Perspektivansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform eines wasserführenden Haushaltsgeräts;
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine Seitenansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines wasserführenden Haushaltsgeräts mit geschlossener Tür;
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine Seitenansicht der zweiten Ausführungsform des wasserführenden Haushaltsgeräts mit geöffneter Tür;
• Fig. 4 zeigt ein schematisches Blockschaltbild einer dritten Ausführungsform eines wasserführenden Haushaltsgeräts;
• Fig. 5 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht einer vierten Ausführungsform eines wasserführenden Haushaltsgeräts;
• Fig. 6 zeigt ein schematisches Zeitdiagramm für ein Beispiel der Funktion der automatischen Belüftung des Spülbehälters; und
• Fig. 7 zeigt ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben des wasserführenden Haushaltsgeräts.

Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the embodiments of the invention described below. Furthermore, the invention will be explained in more detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a water-conducting household appliance;
• Fig. 2 shows a side view of a second embodiment of a water-conducting household appliance with a closed door;
• Fig. 3 shows a side view of the second embodiment of the water-conducting household appliance with the door open;
• Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a third embodiment of a water-conducting household appliance;
• Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a water-conducting household appliance;
• Fig. 6 shows a schematic time chart for an example of the function of the automatic ventilation of the washing container; and
• Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of a method for operating the water-conducting household appliance.

In the figures, the same or functionally identical elements have been given the same reference numerals, unless stated otherwise.

In Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a water-conducting household appliance 1 is shown. In the example of Fig. 1 the water-conducting household appliance 1 is a dishwasher.

The dishwasher 1 has a body comprising a washing container 2 and a door 3. The rinsing container 2 and the door 3 form a rinsing chamber 4 for rinsing dishes. The door 3 is in Fig. 1 shown in their open position. By pivoting about a provided at a lower end of the door 3 pivot axis S, the door 3 can be closed or opened.

The washing container 2 is, for example, cuboidal and may include a bottom 5, a bottom 5 opposite ceiling 6, a door 3 opposite the rear wall 7 and two opposing side walls 8, 9. In particular, the side walls 8, 9 may be made of stainless steel sheet.

The dishwasher 1 also has at least one loading level 10. The at least one loading level 10 is preferably a washware receptacle of the dishwasher 1. In particular, a plurality of load levels 10 may be provided, which may comprise a lower basket, an upper basket and / or a cutlery drawer. The plurality of loading levels 10 are preferably arranged one above the other in the washing container 2. Each loading level 10 is selectively displaceable in an insertion direction E into the washing container 2 or in an extension direction A out of this. For this purpose, a rail 11 is preferably provided on both sides of a respective loading level 10.

A control device 12 provided optionally in the body or in the door 3 of the dishwasher 1 is, inter alia, designed to control the flow of wash programs for washing items to be washed.

Furthermore, the dishwasher 1 comprises a door module 13 for automatically opening and automatically closing the door 3.

The door module 13 is actuated by the control device 12 and comprises a door opening and closing mechanism and a drive for actuating the door opening and closing mechanism. In particular, the drive of the door module 13 is controlled by the control device 12. The drive comprises in particular a motor.

The control device 12 is configured to control the door module 13 to close the door when a user is detected in a certain area in front of the dishwasher 1, and the door module 13 to open the door in the event of a detected absence of the user in the particular one Area to drive. Thus, the control device 12 is adapted to the door module 13 to control the automatic ventilation of the washing compartment 2. The door module 13 closes the door 3 when a user is present, and in turn opens the door 3 for automatic ventilation when the user is absent.

In the first embodiment of the Fig. 1 Dishwasher 1 comprises a detector 14 for providing a detection signal D indicative of the presence the user is in the designated area. Details of the detection signal D become the Fig. 4 and 6 explained in more detail.

The detector 14 is in the first embodiment of Fig. 1 integrated in a door leaf of the door 3 and coupled with the control device 12 communication technology.

The FIGS. 2 and 3 show a side view of a second embodiment of a water-conducting household appliance 1, in particular a dishwasher. It shows the Fig. 2 the dishwasher 1 with the door closed 3, whereas the Fig. 3 the dishwasher 1 with the door open 3 shows. It shows the Fig. 3 a suitable opening gap G for the automatic ventilation of the washing container 2. Also in this second embodiment of the FIGS. 2 and 3 the detector 14 is arranged in the door leaf of the door 3.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a third embodiment of a water-conducting household appliance, in particular a dishwasher 1. The third embodiment of Fig. 4 includes all features of the first embodiment according to Fig. 1 and further illustrates that the dishwasher 1 may include a user interface 15 and a receiver 16. The user interface 15 is configured to input an activation command A to activate the automatic ventilation function of the washing container 2 by a user. In this case, the control device 12 is set up to activate the door module 13 for automatic ventilation of the washing compartment in response to the activation command A. The absence of an activation command A may be interpreted by the control device 12 as a deactivation of the automatic ventilation function of the purge bin 2.

The receiver 16 is set up to receive a detection signal D from an external detector 18 which can be coupled to the receiver 16 via a communication connection 17 and which generates the detection signal D.

In Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a water-conducting household appliance, in particular a dishwasher 1, shown. The fourth embodiment of Fig. 5 includes all features of the first embodiment according to Fig. 1 , In the example of Fig. 5 is the dishwasher 1 with partially open Door 3 pictured. In the upper region of the door 3 and in the baseboard 19 a total of three detectors 14 for detecting a presence of the user in the predetermined area are arranged.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic timing diagram for an example of the function of the automatic ventilation of the washing container 2 by the door module 13. This shows the Fig. 6 in particular an example of a detection signal D, which is modulated by means of on-off keying. Here, the first signal level D1 of the detection signal D indicates the presence of a user in the designated area, whereas the second signal level D2 of the detection signal D indicates the absence of the user in the designated area.

At time t1, the detection signal D changes from the second signal level D2 to the first signal level D1. Consequently, at time t1, the presence of a user in the designated area is detected. As a result of this detection of the presence of the user in the designated area, the door module 13 closes the door 3.

At time t2, the detection signal D changes from the first signal level D1 to the second signal level D2. Consequently, the user has left the designated area in front of the home appliance 1 at time t2. This is a detected absence of the user and the door module 13 opens the door 3 at time t2.

Alternatively, the door module 13 may also open the door 3 only at the time t3 in order to prevent the door 3 from having to be quickly closed again by the door module 13 by a user returning quickly to the predetermined area. The difference t3 - t2 thus indicates a timer whose start is triggered by the second signal level D2 at the time t2.

The opened door 3, opened at the time t2 or alternatively at the time t3, is closed again by the door module 13 at the time t4. The time t4 is chosen such that it may be assumed that the washing container 2 is sufficiently ventilated.

• In Schritt S1 wird bei einer detektierten Anwesenheit eines Nutzers in einem bestimmten Bereich vor dem Haushaltsgerät 1 das Tür-Modul 13 derart angesteuert, dass dieses die Tür 3 schließt.
• In Schritt S2 wird bei einer detektierten Abwesenheit des Nutzers in dem bestimmten Bereich das Tür-Modul 3 derart angesteuert, dass dieses die Tür 3 öffnet.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of a method for operating a water-conducting household appliance 1. The water-conducting household appliance 1 is, for example, according to one of Fig. 1 to 5 formed and includes a through a washing container 2 and a pivotable door 3 formed washing chamber 4 for washing dishes and a door module 13 for automatically opening and closing the door 3. The method of Fig. 7 includes steps S1 and S2:

• In step S1, when a user is detected in a certain area in front of the household appliance 1, the door module 13 is activated in such a way that it closes the door 3.
• In step S2, in the event of a detected absence of the user in the specific area, the door module 3 is activated in such a way that it opens the door 3.

Thus, the method with the steps S1 and S2 for automatic ventilation of the washing container 2 is suitable because in a presence of the user, the door 3 is closed and the user can not be disturbed by unpleasant odors from the washing compartment 2, whereas the door 3 at a subsequent absence of the user is reopened to automatically ventilate the washing compartment 2.

Used reference signs:

1

water-conducting household appliance

2

rinse tank

3

door

4

rinsing chamber

5

ground

6

ceiling

7

rear wall

8.9

side walls

10

load level

11

rail

12

control device

13

Door module

14

detector

15

User interface

16

receiver

17

communication link

18

external detector

19

skirting

A

activation signal

D

detection signal

D1

first signal level of the detection signal

D2

second signal level of the detection signal

G

opening gap

S

swivel axis

S1

step

S2

step

t

Time

t1

time

t2

time

t3

time

t4

time

Claims (13)

1. Water-conducting household appliance (1), in particular a dishwasher, with a washing chamber (4) formed by a washing container (2) and a pivotable door (3) for washing dishes, a door module (13) for automatically opening and closing the door (3), and a control device (12), characterised in that the control device (12) is designed to activate the door module (13) in the presence of a first signal level (D1) of a detection signal (D) which is indicative of the presence of the user in a particular area in front of the household appliance (1), such that it (13) closes the door (3), and to activate the door module (13) in the presence of a second signal level (D2) of the detection signal (D) which indicates the absence of the user in the particular area, such that it (13) opens the door (3).
2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the control device (12) is designed to activate the door module (13) for automatic ventilation of the washing container (2).
3. Household appliance according to claim 2, characterised by a user interface (15) with an input means for inputting an activation command (A) for activating the function of the automatic ventilation of the washing container (2) by a user, wherein the control device (12) is designed to activate the door module (13) for automatic ventilation of the washing container (2) as a function of the activation command (A).
4. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the control device (12) is designed to activate the door module (13) in the presence of the first signal level (D1) of the detection signal (D) which is indicative of the presence of the user in the particular area, such that it (13) closes the door (3), and to activate the door module (13) in the presence of the second signal level (D2) of the detection signal (D) and on expiry of a timer triggered by the second signal level (D2) of the detection signal (D), such that it (13) opens the door (3).
5. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the control device (12) is designed to activate the door module (13) in the presence of a first signal level (D1) of the detection signal (D) which is indicative of the presence of the user in the particular area, such that it (13) closes the door (3), and to activate the door module (13) in the presence of the second signal level (D2) of the detection signal (D) and on expiry of a timer triggered by the second signal level (D2) of the detection signal (D), such that it (13) opens the door (3) and closes it again on expiry of a particular period of time.
6. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the first signal level (D1) is a positive logic signal level and the second signal level (D2) is a negative logic signal level.
7. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised by a detector (14) for providing the detection signal (D).
8. Household appliance according to claim 7, characterised in that the detector (14) comprises a motion detector, an infrared motion detector, an RF sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a Doppler radar sensor, a microphone and/or an image recognition device.
9. Household appliance according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the detector (14) is attached to the door (3), is integrated into a door leaf of the door (3), is arranged in a base (19) of the household appliance (1) or is integrated into a control panel of the door (3).
10. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised by a receiver (16) for receiving the detection signal (D) from an external detector (18) which can be coupled to the receiver (16) via a communication connection (17) in order to provide the detection signal (D).
11. Household appliance according to claim 10, characterised in that the communication connection (17) is a wireless communication connection or a wired communication connection.
12. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the door module (13) comprises a door opening and closing mechanism and a drive for actuating the door opening and closing mechanism.
13. Method for operating a water-conducting household appliance (1), in particular a dishwasher, with a washing chamber (4) formed by a washing container (2) and a pivotable door (3) for washing dishes and a door module (13) for automatic opening and closing of the door (3), comprising:

    activating (S1) the door module (13) to close the door (3) in the event of a detected presence of a user in a particular area in front of the household appliance (1) by means of a control device (12), and

    activating (S2) the door module (13) to open the door (3) in the event of a detected absence of the user in the particular area, by means of the control device (12), wherein the control device (12) activates the door module (13) in the presence of a first signal level (D1) of a detection signal (D) which is indicative of the presence of the user in the particular area, such that it (13) closes the door (3), and activates the door module (13) in the presence of a second signal level (D2) of the detection signal which indicates the absence of the user in the particular area, such that it (13) opens the door (3).

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