EP3654815B1 - Household dishwasher machine and method for operating a household dishwasher machine - Google Patents

Description

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

Two criteria are particularly important for consumers when choosing a household dishwasher: The dishes must be clean and they should come out of the household dishwasher as dry as possible. Regarding the cleanliness of the dishes, for example WO 2004/071681 A1 a method is known in which the washing liquor is analyzed for dirt particles using an image recognition unit, which allows conclusions to be drawn about the cleanliness of the dishes.

In particular, if the dishes are still wet after a washing process, this means a significant restriction for the user, as they cannot immediately put the dishes in the designated place, but can first dry them by hand or let them air dry on a table must be arranged in the appropriate frame.

There are various ways in which the drying performance of a dishwasher 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, situations still arise in which the dishes are not completely dry after the washing process has been completed or moisture condenses back onto the dishes.

EP 1 344 487 A2 discloses a dishwasher with a moisture sensor for detecting the degree of dryness within a container or air duct of the dishwasher. The moisture sensor detects the moisture adhering to a detection surface. In this way, the end of a dry phase can be detected without contact. The JP 2003 235 781 A discloses another conventional dishwasher that has a means for detecting a degree of drying.

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

Accordingly, a household dishwasher with a control device for carrying out a washing program from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed arranged in a washing chamber is proposed. The household dishwasher has an optical sensor for detecting an optical sensor signal of the items to be washed arranged in 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 depending on the detected optical sensor signal of the washing chamber. The optical sensor is designed as an infrared sensor, which is set up to detect a temperature of the items to be washed and to detect a relative humidity of air in the washing chamber, the evaluation unit being set up to determine the drying state of the items to be washed as a function of the detected temperature of the items to be washed and the to determine the recorded relative humidity. The evaluation unit is set up to trigger a predetermined action depending on the determined drying state of the items to be washed. The specified action includes ending the washing program, extending the washing program, setting a parameter value of the washing program, issuing a notification signal and/or activating a component of the household dishwasher.

Such a household 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, a variety of advantageous measures can be initiated, such as measures to dry the items to be washed more quickly, to prevent condensation on the items to be washed and/or to issue a message to a user as to when the optimal time to remove the items to be washed is the household dishwasher.

The control device can be implemented in terms of hardware and/or software. In the case of a hardware implementation, the control device can be designed, for example, as a computer or as a microprocessor. In the case of 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 carry out a washing program from a number of washing programs for washing the items to be washed. A rinsing program includes, for example, various sub-program steps, such as pre-rinsing, cleaning, rinsing and/or drying. Different washing programs differ, for example, in an order and/or type of sub-program steps, as well as in various parameters, such as a duration and/or washing liquor temperature of one or more sub-program steps.

The last partial program step in a respective washing program is, in particular, drying, during which the items to be washed dry. Depending on the design of the household dishwasher, drying can be carried out in different ways.

For example, condensation drying can be provided. Preparation for this is carried out, for example, in the partial program step that precedes drying A high washing liquor temperature is selected so that the items to be washed are heated to the high temperature. During drying, for example, a side wall of a washing container in a household dishwasher is cooled. This leads to condensation of moisture from the air in the washing chamber on the side wall, thereby removing moisture from the air. The air can therefore absorb moisture from the items to be washed again. Due to the high temperature of the items to be washed, any moisture remaining on the items to be washed evaporates particularly well.

For example, a zeolite drying unit can also be provided. The zeolite drying unit is designed to absorb moisture from the air in the rinsing chamber. For example, a fan is provided which circulates the air in the rinsing chamber and directs it through the zeolite drying unit. Furthermore, it can be provided that a fan conveys moist air out of the rinsing chamber. Furthermore, a fan can be used to blow out liquid water that has collected, for example, in a recess of a pot and/or a bowl.

For washing with the household dishwasher, items to be washed are arranged in the washing chamber, in particular on one or more items to be washed. The items to be washed include in particular various dishes, cutlery and/or tools that are used to prepare, store and/or consume food. These are, for example, plates, pots, cups, knives, glasses and the like. The items to be washed therefore include, in particular, objects comprising different materials, such as porcelain, glass, wood, metal and/or plastic. Drying depends in particular on the material and/or the surface of the items to be washed. For example, items made of plastic dry relatively worse than items made of porcelain due to a hydrophobic surface and a lower heat capacity of the plastic compared to items made of porcelain.

The optical sensor is in particular designed as an optoelectronic sensor which provides an analog electrical signal as the optical sensor signal depending on an optical signal. This offers the advantage that the optical sensor can be manufactured and used on a microchip in an integrated design and thus saves space and materials as well as cost-effectively. Furthermore, the analog electrical signal convert it into a digital signal with little effort, for example using an A/D converter, and then process it digitally.

The optical sensor is in particular arranged in the household dishwasher in such a way that it can detect an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber and in particular of the items to be washed arranged in the washing chamber. This is true, 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 in the closed state forms the washing chamber with the washing container. Furthermore, it can be provided to use several optical sensors, with each of the optical sensors detecting an optical sensor signal of an area assigned to the optical sensor.

The optical sensor is in particular designed to detect the optical sensor signal over a broad spectral range that 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 captures, for example, an image and/or an image sequence of the washing chamber and in particular of the items to be washed arranged therein.

A lighting device can be provided to support this, which illuminates the washing chamber. This lighting device can in particular be designed as a narrow-band light source, such as a laser. Alternatively, the lighting device can be designed 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 the case of a hardware implementation, the evaluation unit can be designed, for example, as a computer or as a microprocessor. In a software implementation, the evaluation unit can be implemented as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as part of a program code or as an executable object be trained. 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 depending on the detected optical sensor signal. For example, the evaluation unit processes and/or analyzes the optical sensor signal accordingly. The evaluation unit can, for example, be set up to carry out a spectral analysis of the optical sensor signal. In particular, molecular water can be detected through such an analysis of an infrared spectral range of the detected sensor signal, which can be used to draw conclusions directly or indirectly about the drying state.

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

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

According to one embodiment of the household dishwasher, it has a lighting device for illuminating the washing chamber when detecting the optical sensor signal.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous because an optical sensor signal with a high signal-to-noise ratio can be detected even when the door of the household dishwasher is closed. Furthermore, by using a special lighting device, optical sensor signals can be detected in spectral ranges that would otherwise not be accessible, such as microwaves and/or terahertz radiation. Furthermore, by exciting specific absorption bands of the Water molecule determines a water content in the air and / or water on the items to be washed, whereby the drying state of the items to be washed can be determined more precisely.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the optical sensor is set up to detect an optical sensor signal of the items to be washed arranged in the washing chamber.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the lighting device is set up to illuminate the items to be washed arranged in the washing chamber when the optical sensor signal is detected.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the optical sensor is designed as a camera, the optical sensor signal comprising an image of the washing chamber.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the evaluation unit is set up to carry out an image analysis of the captured image to determine the drying state of the items to be washed.

The infrared sensor is set up to detect a temperature of the items to be washed and to detect a relative humidity of air in the washing chamber, the evaluation unit being set up to determine the drying state of the items to be washed as a function of the detected temperature of the items to be washed and the detected relative 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 essentially dry. Conversely, if the temperature of the items to be washed is low and the air humidity is high, it can be assumed that moisture will condense on the items to be washed. In this case, for example, one speaks of recondensation.

Setting a parameter value of the washing program includes in particular one or more of the measures listed below: opening the door of the household dishwasher, activating a fan for circulating 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.

Issuing a notification signal includes, in particular, issuing a signal to a user by means of a user interface. The user interface includes, for example, a display element and/or a loudspeaker. In particular, the user interface comprises a communication unit that transmits a notification to a mobile device or an app installed on the user's mobile device, for example by means of a network. 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 removing the items to be washed. In particular, the remaining time until the items to be washed can be displayed or transmitted, for example, on the display element and/or by means of the communication unit.

In embodiments of the household dishwasher, it can be provided that the user uses an optical sensor integrated in a mobile device, in particular a camera of a smartphone, to detect a further optical sensor signal of the washing chamber and / or the items to be washed, which is transmitted from the mobile device, in particular wirelessly the evaluation unit is transmitted. The evaluation unit is set up to determine the drying state depending on the further optical sensor signal.

In embodiments it can further be provided that the optical sensor signal for determining the drying state is transmitted to a server, for example via the Internet, whereby the server determines the drying state depending on the transmitted sensor signal and transmits it to the household dishwasher.

According to a further aspect, a method for operating a household dishwasher is proposed. The household dishwasher has a control device for carrying out a washing program from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed arranged in a washing chamber. In a first method step, the washing program is carried out using the control device. In a second method step, an optical sensor signal from the rinsing chamber is detected using an optical sensor. The optical sensor is designed as an infrared sensor, which is set up to detect a temperature of the items to be washed and to detect a relative humidity of the air in the washing chamber. 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. The evaluation unit determines the drying state depending on the recorded temperature of the items to be washed and the recorded relative humidity. The method further includes triggering a predetermined action depending on the determined drying state of the items to be washed, wherein the predetermined action includes ending the washing program, extending the washing program, setting a parameter value of the washing program, issuing a notification signal and / or activating a component of the Household dishwasher includes.

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

In embodiments of the method, provision can be made 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 are set up to determine the drying state depending on the transmitted sensor signal. On a mobile device, determining the drying state can be carried out in particular by an app that runs on the mobile device.

The drying state of the items to be washed can also be determined at any time during a washing program, in particular during a drying sub-program step, and/or also after completion of the washing program. In particular, by determining the drying state after the end of a washing program, but before a user removes the items to be washed from the washing chamber, it can be provided, for example to prevent moisture from condensing back onto the items to be washed by opening the door and/or using a fan.

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

Furthermore, a computer program product is proposed which causes the method explained above to be carried out on a program-controlled device.

A computer program product, such as a computer program means, can be provided or delivered, for example, as a storage medium, such as a memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM, DVD, or in the form of a downloadable file from a server in a network. 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 combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. The person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Haushaltsgeschirrspülmaschine;
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Haushaltsgeschirrspülmaschine; und
• Fig. 3 zeigt ein schematisches Blockschaltbild eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben einer Haushaltsgeschirrspülmaschine.

Further advantageous refinements and aspects of the invention are the subject of the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. The invention is further explained in more detail using preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher;
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a household dishwasher; and
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a household dishwasher.

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

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a household dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a washing container 2, which can be closed, in particular watertight, by a door 3. For this purpose, a sealing device can be provided between the door 3 and the washing container 2 (not shown). The washing container 2 is preferably cuboid. The washing container 2 can be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The washing container 2 and the door 3 can form a washing chamber 4 for washing items 15 to be washed.

Door 3 is in the Fig. 1 shown in its open position. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided at a lower end of the door 3. With the help of the door 3, a loading opening 6 of the washing container 2 can be closed or opened. The washing container 2 has a base 7, a ceiling 8 arranged opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another. The floor 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 11 can be made, for example, from a stainless steel sheet. Alternatively, for example, the bottom 7 can be made of a plastic material.

The household dishwasher 1 also has at least one washware holder 12, 13, 14. Preferably, several, for example three, washware receptacles 12, 13, 14 can be provided, whereby the washware receptacle 12 can be a lower washware receptacle or a lower basket, the washware receptacle 13 can be an upper washware receptacle or an upper basket and the washware receptacle 14 can be a cutlery drawer. As the Fig. 1 continues to show, the items to be washed 12, 13, 14 are arranged one above the other in the washing container 2. Each washware receptacle 12 to 14 can be moved either into or out of the washing container 2. In particular, each washware holder is 12, 13, 14 in can be pushed into the washing container 2 in an insertion direction E and can be pulled out of the washing container 2 in an extension direction A in the opposite direction to the insertion direction E.

The household dishwasher 1 also has a control device 100 and an evaluation unit 120, which are arranged on the door 3. An optical sensor 110 designed as a camera is arranged on the ceiling 8 in such a way that it is used to detect an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber 4 and in particular of the items to be washed 15 arranged therein (see Fig. 2 ) is set up. The dashed lines below the camera 110 indicate a detection range of the camera 110.

The combination of the camera 110 and the evaluation unit 120 makes it advantageously possible to determine the drying state of the items to be washed 15 arranged in the washing chamber 4 (see Fig. 2 ) to determine. This is explained below using the Fig. 2 explained in more detail.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a household dishwasher 1, such as the household dishwasher 1 Fig. 1 , with items to be washed 15 arranged in a washing chamber 4 on a washware receptacle 12. In this illustration, the door 3, on which a control device 100 and an evaluation unit 120 are arranged, is shown in the closed position, so that the door 3 with the washing container 2 Form rinsing chamber 4. The situation shown corresponds, for example, to a situation that occurs during a drying subprogram step. In this illustration, the items to be washed 15 are partially wetted with drops of water 111.

An optical sensor 110 and a lighting device 115 are arranged on the ceiling 8 of the washing container 2. The optical sensor 110 is designed, for example, as a CCD sensor with a lens and is set up to record an image of the items to be washed 15 arranged in the washing chamber 4 in a wide spectral range from a few micrometers to a few hundred nanometers. The detection area is indicated by dashed lines below the optical sensor 110. The lighting device 115 is designed as a broadband flash device. The direction of radiation is indicated by arrows below the flash device 115. In particular, the flash device 1 15 illuminates the entire washing chamber 4 and the items to be washed 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 110 is opened, the flash device 115 is activated to emit a flash to illuminate the washing chamber 4 and the items to be washed 15, and then the shutter of the optical sensor 110 is closed again. This process takes, for example, 1/1000 s up to 1 s. Then the CCD sensor of the optical sensor 110 is read out and the digital image signal captured in this way 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 example shown, the evaluation unit 120 would, for example, determine 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.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a method for operating a household dishwasher 1, such as 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 carries out a washing program from a number of washing programs for washing items 15 arranged in the washing chamber. In particular, the washing program has drying as the last sub-program step, during which the items to be washed 15 dry.

In a second method step S2, which takes place in particular during the drying sub-program step, the optical sensor 110 detects an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber 4 and in particular of the items to be washed 15.

In a third method step S3, the evaluation unit 120 determines a drying state of the items to be washed 15 depending on 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 displayed on a display element of the household dishwasher 1 and / or measures are initiated to improve drying become. In particular, a temporal development of drying can also be represented and/or predicted. For example, several drying states of the items to be washed 15, determined at predetermined time intervals, are considered overall. It can be provided that a mathematical function, which represents an empirical time course of drying, is adapted to the determined drying states, which results in a prediction for the further time course of drying.

Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways.

Reference symbols used:

1

Household dishwasher

2

Rinse container

3

door

4

Washing chamber

5

Pivot axis

6

loading opening

7

Floor

8th

Ceiling

9

Back wall

10

Side wall

11

Side wall

12

Washware storage

13

Washware storage

14

Washware storage

15

items to be washed

100

Control device

110

optical sensor

111

Waterdrop

115

Lighting device

120

Evaluation unit

A

Extract direction

E

Insertion direction

S1

Procedural step

S2

Procedural step

S3

Procedural step

Claims (7)

1. Household dishwasher (1) with a control device (100) for carrying out 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 acquiring an optical sensor signal of the items to be washed (15) arranged in the washing compartment (4) and an evaluation unit (120), which is embodied to identify a drying state of the items to be washed (15) arranged in the washing compartment (4) as a function of the acquired optical sensor signal, wherein the optical sensor (110) is embodied as an infra-red sensor, which is configured to acquire a temperature of the items to be washed (15) and to acquire a relative air humidity of air in the washing compartment (4), wherein the evaluation unit (120) is configured to identify the drying state of the items to be washed (15) as a function of the acquired temperature of the items to be washed (15) and the acquired relative air humidity, wherein the evaluation unit (120) is configured to trigger a predetermined action as a function of the identified drying state of the items to be washed (15), wherein the predetermined action comprises a termination of the washing program, an extension of the washing program, a setting of a parameter value of the washing program, an output of a notification signal and/or an actuation of a component of the household dishwasher (1).
2. Household dishwasher according to claim 1, characterised by a lighting device (115) for illuminating the washing compartment (4) during acquisition of the optical sensor signal.
3. Household dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the lighting device (115) is configured to illuminate the items to be washed (15) arranged in the washing compartment (4) during acquisition of the optical sensor signal.
4. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the optical sensor (110) is embodied as a camera, wherein the optical sensor signal comprises an image of the washing compartment (4).
5. Household dishwasher according to claim 4, characterised in that the evaluation unit (120) is configured to carry out an image analysis of the acquired image in order to identify the drying state of the items to be washed (15).
6. Method for operating a household dishwasher (1) with a control device (100) for carrying out a washing program selected from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed (15) arranged in a washing compartment (4), comprising:

   execution (S1) of the washing program by means of the control device (100),

   acquisition (S2) of an optical sensor signal of the washing compartment (4) by means of an optical sensor (110), which is embodied as an infra-red sensor, which is configured to acquire a temperature of the items to be washed (15) and to acquire a relative air humidity of air in the washing compartment (4),

   identification (S3) of a drying state of the items to be washed (15) arranged in the washing compartment (4) as a function of the acquired optical sensor signal by an evaluation unit (120), which is configured to identify the drying state of the items to be washed (15) as a function of the acquired temperature of the items to be washed (15) and the acquired relative air humidity, and

   triggering of a predetermined action as a function of the identified drying state of the items to be washed (15), wherein the predetermined action comprises a termination of the washing program, an extension of the washing program, a setting of a parameter value of the washing program, an output of a notification signal and/or an actuation of a component of the household dishwasher (1).
7. Computer program product, which executes commands on a program-controlled device which cause the household dishwasher according to claim 1 to carry out the method according to claim 6.

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