EP3654815A1

EP3654815A1 - Household dishwasher machine and method for operating a household dishwasher machine

Info

Publication number: EP3654815A1
Application number: EP18737904.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maria TERRÁDEZ ALEMANY; Kai Paintner; Matthias HECKES; Daniel HITZLER
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2017-07-19
Filing date: 2018-07-06
Publication date: 2020-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2038-07-06
Also published as: EP3654815B1; DE102017212313A1; CN110944562A; US20200138263A1; US11399695B2; WO2019015991A1; PL3654815T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a household dishwasher machine (1) comprising a control device (100) for running a washing program selected from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed (15) arranged in a washing compartment (4), an optical sensor (110) for detecting an optical sensor signal of the items to be washed (15) arranged in the washing compartment (4), and an evaluation unit (120) designed to determine a dry state of the items to be washed (15) arranged in the washing compartment (4) according to the detected optical sensor signal of the washing compartment (4).

Description

Household dishwasher and method for operating a household dishwasher

The present invention relates to a domestic dishwasher and a method for operating a domestic dishwasher.

For consumers in particular two criteria when choosing a domestic dishwasher are particularly important: The dishes must be clean and it should come as dry as possible from the domestic dishwasher. With regard to the cleanliness of the dishes, WO 2004/071681 A1 discloses, for example, a method in which the rinsing liquor is analyzed for dirt particles by means of an image recognition unit, which allows conclusions to be drawn regarding the cleanliness of the dishes.

In particular, if the dishes are still wet after a rinse, this means a significant limitation for the user, as this can not clear the dishes immediately in the space provided, but first dry it by hand or drying in the air on a appropriate frame must order.

There are various ways known how the drying performance of a dishwashing machine can be improved, such as the use of rinse aid, zeolite drying units, condensation drying and / or automatic door opening. Each of these methods has its own advantages. However, there are situations in which the dishes are not completely dry after the rinse is complete or moisture is condensed back onto the dishes.

Against this background, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved domestic dishwasher.

Accordingly, a domestic dishwasher with a control device for carrying out a wash program from a number of wash programs for washing dishes arranged in a wash chamber is proposed. The domestic dishwasher has an optical sensor for detecting an optical sensor Signals of the washing chamber and an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit is set up to determine a drying state of the items to be washed arranged in the washing chamber as a function of the detected optical sensor signal of the washing chamber.

Such a domestic dishwasher has the advantage that the drying state of the items to be washed can be determined. Based on the determined drying state of the items to be washed, various advantageous measures can be initiated, such as measures for faster drying of the items to be washed, preventing re-condensation on the items to be washed and / or outputting a message to a user, when the optimum time for removing the item Items to be washed from the household dishwasher.

The control device can be implemented in hardware and / or software technology. In a hardware implementation, the control device may be designed, for example, as a computer or as a microprocessor. In a software implementation, the control device can be designed as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as part of a program code or as an executable object.

The control device is set up to execute a wash program from a number of wash programs for washing the wash ware. A wash program includes, for example, various partial program steps, such as a pre-wash, a clean, a rinse and / or a drying. Different wash programs differ, for example, in an order and / or type of partial program steps, as well as in different parameters, such as a duration and / or wash liquor temperature of one or more partial program steps.

As the last partial program step in a respective washing program, in particular drying is provided during which the items to be washed are dried. Depending on the embodiment of the household dishwasher, the drying can be carried out in different ways.

For example, a condensation drying can be provided. For this purpose, preparatory, for example, in the partial program step preceding the drying process a high rinsing temperature selected so that the items to be heated to the high temperature. During drying, for example, a side wall of a washing container of the household dishwasher is cooled down. This leads to condensation of moisture from the air in the flushing chamber on the side wall, whereby moisture is removed from the air. The air can therefore absorb moisture from the ware again. Due to the high temperature of the items to be washed, moisture remaining on the items to be washed evaporates particularly well.

For example, a zeolite drying unit may also be provided. The zeolite drying unit is adapted to receive moisture from the air in the washing chamber. For example, a fan is provided, which circulates the air of the washing chamber and passes through the zeolite drying unit. Furthermore, it can be provided that a fan conveys moist air out of the rinsing chamber. Further, a fan may be used to blow out liquid water collected in, for example, a well of a pot and / or a bowl.

Items to be washed are arranged for rinsing with the household dishwasher in the rinsing chamber, in particular on one or more dishes. The items to be washed include in particular various dishes, cutlery and / or tools which serve for the preparation, storage and / or consumption of food. These are, for example, plates, pots, cups, knives, glasses and the like. The items to be washed thus comprise, in particular, items comprising different materials, such as porcelain, glass, wood, metal and / or plastic. The drying depends in particular on the material and / or the surface of the items to be washed. For example, due to a hydrophobic surface and a lower heat capacity of the plastic, compared to dishes made of porcelain, due to a hydrophobic surface and plastic ware dries relatively worse than the porcelain ware.

The optical sensor is designed in particular as an optoelectronic sensor which provides an analog electrical signal as a function of an optical signal as the optical sensor signal. This offers the advantage that the optical sensor can be produced and used on a microchip in integrated construction and thus saves space and material as well as inexpensively. Furthermore, the analog electrical signal can be With little effort, for example by means of an A D converter, convert into a digital signal and then process digitally.

The optical sensor is arranged in particular in the household dishwasher in such a way that it can detect an optical sensor signal of the rinsing chamber and in particular of the dishes arranged in the rinsing chamber. This is fulfilled, for example, if there is a line of sight from the rinsing chamber to the optical sensor. For example, the optical sensor is arranged on a ceiling of the washing container, on a rear wall of the washing container and / or on a door of the household dishwasher, which forms the washing chamber in the closed state with the washing container. Furthermore, it can be provided to use a plurality of optical sensors, each of the optical sensors each detecting an optical sensor signal of an area associated with the optical sensor.

The optical sensor is in particular configured to detect the optical sensor signal over a broad spectral range, which is not limited to the optical spectral range.

The optical sensor includes, for example, a camera, in particular a digital camera, for example with a CCD sensor (CCD: Charged Coupled Device). The camera detects, for example, an image and / or a sequence of images of the rinsing chamber and in particular of the items to be washed arranged therein.

Supporting a lighting device may be provided which illuminates the washing chamber. This illumination device can be designed in particular as a narrowband light source, such as a laser. Alternatively, the illumination device may be formed as a broadband light source, such as a light bulb and / or a flash unit.

The evaluation unit can be implemented in terms of hardware and / or software. In a hardware implementation, the evaluation unit can be designed, for example, as a computer or as a microprocessor. In a software technical implementation, the evaluation unit can be used as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as part of a program code or as an executable object. be formed. The evaluation unit can in particular be designed as a part of the control device.

The evaluation unit is set up to determine the drying state of the items to be washed as a function of the detected optical sensor signal. For example, the evaluation unit processes and / or analyzes the optical sensor signal accordingly. The evaluation unit can be set up, for example, to carry out a spectral analysis of the optical sensor signal. In particular, can be detected by such an analysis of an infrared spectral range of the detected sensor signal molecular water, which can be directly or indirectly closed to the drying state.

If the optical sensor is designed as a camera, then the evaluation unit can in particular be set up to perform an image analysis of the optical sensor signal present as an image. An image analysis here includes, for example, detection of water droplets and / or water-wetted areas on the items to be washed.

The state of drying is determined, for example, as a percentage, wherein 100% means, for example, that the items to be washed are completely dry. The drying state may also be referred to as drying progress. The drying condition may also include a development of the drying of the items to be washed, such as a prediction of when the items to be washed will be dry.

According to one embodiment of the domestic dishwasher, it has an illumination device for illuminating the rinsing chamber during the detection of the optical sensor signal.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous since an optical sensor signal having a high signal-to-noise ratio can be detected even when the door of the household dishwasher is closed. Furthermore, by using a special illumination device, it is possible to detect optical sensor signals in spectral regions which would otherwise be inaccessible, such as, for example, microwaves and / or terahertz radiation. Furthermore, by exciting specific absorption bands of the Water molecule determine a water content in the air and / or water on the items to be washed, whereby the drying state of the dishes can be determined more accurately.

According to a further embodiment of the domestic dishwasher, the optical sensor is arranged to detect an optical sensor signal of the dishes arranged in the washing chamber.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the domestic dishwasher, the illumination device is set up for illuminating the items to be washed arranged in the washing chamber during the detection of the optical sensor signal.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the optical sensor is designed as a camera, wherein the optical sensor signal comprises an image of the rinsing chamber. According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the evaluation unit is set up to perform an image analysis of the acquired image for determining the drying state of the items to be washed.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the optical sensor is designed as an infrared sensor.

According to a further embodiment of the domestic dishwasher, the infrared sensor is adapted to detect a temperature of the items to be washed and to detect a relative humidity of air in the rinsing chamber, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to the state of drying of the items as a function of the detected temperature of the items to be washed and the detected relative Determine humidity.

If the temperature of the items to be washed is high and the relative humidity of the air is low, it can be assumed that the items to be washed are substantially dry. Conversely, at low temperature of the dishes and high humidity of the air to be assumed that moisture condenses on the dishes. In this case one speaks for example also of recondensation. According to a further embodiment of the domestic dishwasher, the evaluation unit is set up to trigger a predetermined action as a function of the determined drying state of the items to be washed.

According to a further embodiment of the domestic dishwasher, the predetermined action comprises terminating the wash program, lengthening the wash program, setting a parameter value of the wash program, outputting a notification signal and / or driving a component of the household dishwasher. Setting a parameter value of the washing program comprises, in particular, one or more of the measures enumerated below: opening the door of the household dishwasher, activating a fan to circulate the air in the washing chamber, activating a zeolite drying unit, cooling a side wall of the washing container and / or activating an air heating device.

In particular, the issuing of a notification signal comprises outputting a signal to a user by means of a user interface. The user interface comprises, for example, a display element and / or a loudspeaker. In particular, the user interface comprises a communication unit which transmits, for example by means of a network, a notification to a mobile device or an app which is installed on a user's mobile device. The network includes in particular a mobile radio network, a WLAN and / or another wireless or wired data network. This embodiment has the advantage that the user can be informed about the optimal time for removal of the items to be washed. In particular, the remaining time until complete drying of the items to be washed can be displayed or transmitted on the display element and / or by means of the communication unit, for example.

In embodiments of the domestic dishwasher, it can be provided that the user, with an optical sensor integrated in a mobile device, in particular a camera of a smartphone, detects a further optical sensor signal of the rinsing chamber and / or of the items to be washed, which from the mobile device, in particular wirelessly the evaluation unit is transmitted. The evaluation unit is set up to determine the drying state as a function of the further optical sensor signal.

In embodiments, it may further be provided that the optical sensor signal for determining the state of drying is transmitted to a server, for example via the Internet, wherein the server determines the state of drying as a function of the transmitted sensor signal and transmits it to the household dishwasher.

According to a further aspect, a method for operating a domestic dishwasher is proposed. The domestic dishwasher has a control device for carrying out a wash program from a number of wash programs for washing wash items arranged in a wash chamber. In a first method step, the washing program is carried out by means of the control device. In a second method step, an optical sensor signal of the rinsing chamber is detected by means of an optical sensor. In a third method step, a drying state of the items to be washed arranged in the washing chamber is determined by an evaluation unit as a function of the detected optical sensor signal.

This method advantageously makes it possible to optimize the operation of the domestic dishwasher with respect to the state of drying.

In embodiments of the method, it may be provided to transmit the detected optical sensor signal to a mobile device, in particular a smartphone, and / or to a server, such as a backend. The mobile device and / or the server are designed in particular as the evaluation unit and configured to determine the state of drying as a function of the transmitted sensor signal. In particular, on a mobile device, the determination of the state of drying may be performed by an app running on the mobile device.

The drying state of the items to be washed can furthermore be determined at any time during a wash program, in particular during a partial program step drying, and / or also after the conclusion of the wash program. In particular, by determining the state of drying after an end of a washing program, but even before a user removes the items to be washed from the washing chamber, can be provided, for example to prevent back condensation of moisture on the items to be washed by a door opening and / or by a fan.

The embodiments and features described for the proposed domestic dishwasher apply to the proposed method accordingly.

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.

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 person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

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 schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of another embodiment of a household dishwasher; and 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a domestic dishwasher.

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

1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a domestic dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a washing container 2, which is closed by a door 3, in particular waterproof. For this purpose, a sealing device may be provided between the door 3 and the washing container 2 (not shown). The washing container 2 is preferably cuboid. The washing container 2 may be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The rinsing container 2 and the door 3 can form a rinsing chamber 4 for rinsing dishes 15. The door 3 is shown in Fig. 1 in its open position. By pivoting about a provided at a lower end of the door 3 pivot axis 5, the door 3 can be closed or opened. With the help of the door 3, a charging opening 6 of the washing container 2 can be closed or opened. The rinsing container 2 has a base 7, a cover 8 arranged opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3, and two side walls 10, 11 disposed opposite one another. The bottom 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 1 1 can be made for example of a stainless steel sheet. Alternatively, for example, the bottom 7 may be made of a plastic material.

The domestic dishwasher 1 also has at least one Spülgutaufnahme 12, 13, 14. Preferably, several, for example three, Spülgutaufnahmen 12, 13, 14 may be provided, wherein the Spülgutaufnahme 12 a lower Spülgutaufnahme or a lower basket, the Spülgutaufnahme 13 an upper Spülgutaufnahme or an upper basket and the Spülgutaufnahme 14 may be a cutlery drawer. As FIG. 1 also shows, the items to be washed 12, 13, 14 are arranged one above the other in the washing container 2. Each Spülgutaufnahme 12 to 14 is either in the Spülbehälter 2 in or herausverlagerbar out of this. In particular, each Spülgutaufnahme 12, 13, 14 in an insertion direction E hineinschiebbar in the washing container 2 and opposite to the insertion direction E in a pull-out direction A from the washing compartment 2 pulled out.

The domestic dishwasher 1 also has a control device 100 and an evaluation unit 120, which are arranged on the door 3. An optical sensor 1 10 designed as a camera is arranged on the ceiling 8 so that it is set up to detect an optical sensor signal of the rinsing chamber 4 and in particular of the items 15 to be rinsed therein (see FIG. 2). The dashed lines below the camera 1 10 indicate a detection range of the camera 1 10. Due to the combination of the camera 110 and the evaluation unit 120, it is advantageously possible to determine a drying state of items 15 arranged in the dishwashing chamber 4 (see FIG. 2). This will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

2 shows a schematic side view of another embodiment of a domestic dishwasher 1, such as the domestic dishwasher 1 of FIG. 1, with in a rinsing chamber 4 on a Spülgutaufnahme 12 arranged Spülgut 15. In this illustration, the door 3, to which a control device 100th and an evaluation unit 120 are arranged, shown in the closed position, so that the door 3 with the washing compartment 2 form the washing chamber 4. For example, the situation illustrated corresponds to a situation occurring during a partial program step

Drying occurs. The ware 15 is partially wetted in this illustration with water drops 1 1 1.

On the ceiling 8 of the washing container 2, an optical sensor 1 10 and a lighting device 1 15 are arranged. The optical sensor 1 10 is for example as a

CCD sensor formed with a lens and is adapted to receive an image of the arranged in the washing chamber 4 Spülguts 15 in a wide spectral range from a few microns to a few hundred nanometers. The detection range is indicated by dashed lines below the optical sensor 1 10. The lighting device 1 15 is designed as a broadband flash unit. The radiation direction of the radiation is indicated by arrows below the flash unit 15. In particular, the flash unit 15 illuminates the entire rinsing chamber 4 and the ware 15 arranged therein. In order to determine the drying progress of the items to be washed 15, for example, a shutter of the optical sensor 1 10 is opened, the flash unit 1 15 driven to deliver a flash for illuminating the washing chamber 4 and the dishes 15 and then closed the shutter of the optical sensor 1 10 again. This process takes, for example, 1/1000 s up to 1 s. Then, the CCD sensor of the optical sensor 10 is read out and the digital image signal thus acquired is transmitted to the evaluation unit 120. The evaluation unit 120 then analyzes the image signal and determines a drying state of the items to be washed 15. In the illustrated example, the evaluation unit 120 would determine, for example, that the items to be washed 15 are still wet. For example, the evaluation unit 120 then activates a zeolite drying device (not shown) in order to accelerate and / or complete the drying process.

3 shows a schematic block diagram of a method for operating a domestic dishwasher 1, such as, for example, the household dishwasher 1 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, with a control device 100, an optical sensor 110 and an evaluation unit 120.

In a first method step S1, the control device 100 performs a rinse program from a number of rinse programs for rinsing dishes 15 arranged in the rinse chamber. In particular, the washing program as the last part program step to a drying during which the items to be washed 15 dries.

In a second method step S2, which takes place in particular during the partial program step drying, the optical sensor 110 detects an optical sensor signal of the rinsing chamber 4 and in particular of the ware 15.

In a third method step S3, the evaluation unit 120 determines a drying state of the items to be washed 15 as a function of the optical sensor signal detected by the optical sensor 110.

In further, optional method steps, it is provided, for example, that the determined drying progress is output on a display element of the household dishwasher 1 and / or measures for improving the drying are initiated become. In particular, a temporal development of the drying can be represented and / or predicted. By way of example, a plurality of drying states of the items to be washed 15 determined at predetermined time intervals are considered overall for this purpose. It can be provided that a mathematical function, which represents an experienced time course of the drying, is adapted to the determined drying conditions, which results in a prediction for the further time course of the drying.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments, it is variously modifiable.

Used reference signs:

1 household dishwasher

2 rinse tanks

3 door

4 rinsing chamber

5 pivot axis

6 charging opening

7 soil

8 ceiling

9 rear wall

10 sidewall

1 1 side wall

12 Spülgutaufnahme

13 washware receptacle

14 Spülgutaufnahme

15 items to be washed

100 control device

1 10 optical sensor

1 1 1 drops of water

1 15 lighting device

120 evaluation unit

A separation direction

E insertion direction

S1 process step

52 process step

53 process step

Claims

1 . Domestic dishwashing machine (1) with a control device (100) for carrying out a wash program of a number of wash programs for washing in a wash chamber (4) arranged washware (15), an optical sensor (1 10) for detecting an optical sensor signal in the washing chamber (4) arranged items to be washed (15) and an evaluation unit (120), which is adapted to determine depending on the detected optical sensor signal of the washing chamber (4) a drying state of the in the washing chamber (4) arranged Spülguts (15).

2. Domestic dishwashing machine according to claim 1, characterized by an illumination device (1 15) for illuminating the rinsing chamber (4) in the detection of the optical sensor signal.

3. Domestic dishwashing machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the illumination device (15) for illuminating the in the rinsing chamber (4) arranged Spülguts (15) is arranged in the detection of the optical sensor signal.

4. domestic dishwasher according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the optical sensor (1 10) is designed as a camera, wherein the optical sensor signal see an image of the washing chamber (4).

5. domestic dishwasher according to claim 4, characterized in that the evaluation unit (120) is adapted to perform an image analysis of the detected image for determining the drying state of the items to be washed (15).

6. domestic dishwasher according to one of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the optical sensor (1 10) is designed as an infrared sensor.

7. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 6, characterized in that the infrared sensor for detecting a temperature of the items to be washed (15) and for detecting a relative humidity of air in the washing chamber (4) is arranged, wherein the evaluation unit (120) is adapted to the Drying state of the items to be washed (15) in Ab- Determine the dependence of the detected temperature of the dishes (15) and the detected relative humidity.

8. domestic dishwasher according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the evaluation unit (120) is adapted to trigger a predetermined action depending on the determined drying state of the items to be washed (15).

9. domestic dishwasher according to claim 8, characterized in that the predetermined action includes terminating the wash program, extending the wash program, setting a parameter value of the wash program, outputting a notification signal and / or driving a component of the household dishwasher (1).

10. A method for operating a domestic dishwasher (1) with a control device (100) for carrying out a wash program from a number of wash programs for washing in a wash chamber (4) arranged wash ware (15), comprising:

Performing (S1) the wash program by means of the control device (100), detecting (S2) an optical sensor signal of the wash chamber (4) by means of an optical sensor (1 10), and

Determining (S3) a drying state of the in the rinsing chamber (4) arranged

Washware (15) as a function of the detected optical sensor signal by an evaluation unit (120).

1 1. Computer program product, which causes the execution of the method according to claim 10 on a program-controlled device.