Patent Publication Number: US-2023148826-A1

Title: System comprising a dishwasher, and method for operating a dishwasher

Description:
The present invention relates to a system with a dishwasher, such as a household dishwasher for example, as well as to a method for operating a dishwasher. 
     A household dishwasher sometimes comprises a dishwasher cavity, which can be closed off by a door, with a number of receptacles for items to be washed for accommodating items to be washed, and a control device for carrying out one washing program from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed. 
     The user only receives assistance with loading the receptacles for items to be washed of the dishwasher cavity from the printed operating guide for the dishwasher, from the printed manual for the dishwasher, or from training videos on the Internet. However, this is all very laborious for the user and generally is not used either. 
     For this reason, it is assumed that the dishwasher cavity is frequently not loaded with items to be washed by the user in an optimal manner. Due to the sub-optimal loading of the dishwasher cavity, a sub-optimal cleaning result, a sub-optimal drying result and/or an increased energy consumption may occur. 
     Conventional solutions are known from US 2018/0214001 A1, DE 10 2011 087 227 A1, DE 10 048 081 A1, DE 10 2012 223 243 A1 and US 2012/0060875 A1. 
     Against this background, an object of the present invention consists in further improving the operation of a dishwasher. 
     According to a first aspect, a system is proposed with a dishwasher, in particular household dishwasher, having a dishwasher cavity, which can be closed off by a door, with a number of receptacles for items to be washed for accommodating items to be washed, and a control device for carrying out one washing program from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed, with an optical sensor for recording an optical sensor signal of the dishwasher cavity, with a determining unit for determining a load state of the dishwasher cavity as a function of the recorded optical sensor signal, and with an output unit for outputting a positioning recommendation to a user for the purpose of positioning at least one item to be washed in one of the receptacles for items to be washed on the basis of the determined load state. 
     In this context, the determined load state indicates, in particular for each of the receptacles for items to be washed, the places at which the respective receptacle for items to be washed is loaded. The determined load state preferably indicates, in particular for each of the receptacles for items to be washed, the places at which the respective receptacle for items to be washed is loaded, and in this context with which items to be washed it is loaded. According to inverted logic, this may also be expressed as follows: the determined load state indicates existing free spaces in the respective receptacle for items to be washed. A new item to be washed can be arranged in such a free space, or an item to be washed that has been incorrectly positioned in one of the receptacles for items to be washed can be placed in such a free space. 
     The output unit comprises in particular a visual and/or aural output. For example, the output unit comprises a screen and/or a loudspeaker. In this context, the output unit may be configured to use an augmented reality representation or a virtual reality representation to output the positioning recommendation to the user. 
     The operation of the dishwasher is improved by the positioning recommendation generated automatically for the user. The positioning recommendation generated automatically and output to the user in this context helps the user to load the dishwasher optimally, and to do so as a function of the respective load state of the dishwasher that has currently been determined. Optimal loading of the dishwasher produces an optimized cleaning result, an optimized drying result and an optimization of the energy consumption. 
     Furthermore, it is possible to derive user-specific data from a number of washing cycles, wherein from the user-specific data, in turn, user-specific advice and recommendations for the operation of the dishwasher can be generated and output to the user via the output unit. Furthermore, from this obtained data, in particular the determined load states and the derived user data, it is possible to establish an internal database for the dishwasher as well as an external database, in particular for the dishwasher manufacturer. In particular, by way of the external database, for example managed by the dishwasher manufacturer, it is also possible to output positioning recommendations to other users, for example in the same cultural area. This also means that users are also able to benefit from positioning recommendations that are generated or optimized from data from other users. 
     The control device may be implemented as hardware and/or also as software. The control device is in particular integrated into the dishwasher. Alternatively, the control device can also be arranged outside the dishwasher. If implemented as hardware, the control device can be embodied for example as a computer or microprocessor. If implemented as software, the control device can be embodied 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 configured to carry out one washing program from a number of washing programs for washing the items to be washed. A washing program comprises for example different program sub-steps, such as a pre-rinse, a cleaning, a rinsing and/or a drying. Different washing programs differ for example with regard to a sequence and/or type of program sub-steps and with regard to different operating parameters, such as for example a duration and/or washing liquor temperature of one or several program sub-steps. 
     Items to be washed are arranged in the washing compartment, in particular on one or several receptacles for items to be washed, for washing with the household dishwasher. The items to be washed comprise in particular various items of dishware, cutlery and/or tools which are used for preparing, storing and/or consuming foods. These are for example plates, pots, cups, knives, glasses, bowls and the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the output unit is configured to output the positioning recommendation to the user for the purpose of positioning at least one item to be washed in one of the receptacles for items to be washed on the basis of the determined load state and a target loading of the dishwasher. 
     The target loading of the dishwasher may be part of the operating guide or the manual of the dishwasher. In the event that the dishwasher has a communication unit, the target loading may also be loaded via the Internet, for example from a cloud of the dishwasher manufacturer. 
     According to a further embodiment, the optical sensor is further configured for recording an optical sensor signal of an item to be washed, wherein the output unit is configured to take into consideration a geometry, a volume and/or a shape of the item to be washed for the positioning recommendation to the user. 
     In this context, the positioning recommendation can be optimized in that, as a function of the geometry, the volume and/or the shape of the item to be washed, an optimal free space is found in one of the receptacles for items to be washed and is visually and/or aurally output to the user via the positioning recommendation. 
     According to a further embodiment, the determining unit is configured, when determining the load state of the dishwasher cavity, to detect an incorrect positioning of a particular item to be washed that is arranged in one of the receptacles for items to be washed, wherein the output unit is configured to output a positioning recommendation to the user to re-sort the particular item to be washed on the basis of the detected incorrect positioning. 
     According to a further embodiment, the determining unit is configured, when determining the load state of the dishwasher cavity, to detect an incorrect orientation of a particular item to be washed that is arranged in one of the receptacles for items to be washed, wherein the output unit is configured to output a positioning recommendation to the user to rotate, in particular to turn over, the particular item to be washed on the basis of the detected incorrect orientation. 
     Thus, it is also possible to correct an incorrect orientation of an item to be washed that is arranged in one of the receptacles for items to be washed. If, for example, the item to be washed is a glass and the user puts it in one of the receptacles for items to be washed such that the opening is facing upward, then, when the washing program is running, the glass will fill up with washing liquor and this will therefore interfere with or even prevent subsequent drying. In order to prevent this, the determining unit is preferably configured, when determining the load state of the dishwasher cavity, to detect such an incorrect orientation of an item to be washed that is arranged in one of the receptacles for items to be washed, wherein the output unit is then configured to output a positioning recommendation to rotate, in particular to turn over, the item to be washed on the basis of the detected incorrect orientation. In particular, an incorrect orientation is not only present at an angle of 180°. As the wires of the receptacles for items to be washed may have different angles, an incorrect orientation may already be present at considerably lower degree values. Thus, for example, if the cup is at too low an oblique position in the cup shelf, then washing liquor may accumulate in an amount that means that complete drying is no longer possible. In such a case, the positioning recommendation can recommend to the user, for example, to slightly rotate the item to be washed or re-sort it to another place in the dishwasher cavity, in particular a place with a greater incline of the contact surface. 
     According to a further embodiment, the optical sensor is further configured to record an optical sensor signal of a further item to be washed that is to be newly introduced into the dishwasher cavity, wherein the output unit is configured to output a positioning recommendation to the user for the purpose of sorting the further item to be washed into one of the receptacles for items to be washed of the dishwasher cavity on the basis of the recorded optical sensor signal of the further item to be washed as well as on the basis of the determined load state. 
     This means that the present positioning recommendation is advantageously based not only on the currently determined load state of the receptacles for items to be washed, but also on the item to be washed that is currently to be put in place. This means that the present positioning recommendation is also optimized with regard to the item to be washed that is to be put in place. 
     According to a further embodiment, the output unit is configured to use an augmented reality representation or a virtual reality representation to output the positioning recommendation to the user. 
     For example, if the output unit is embodied on a smartphone of the user or a tablet of the user, a virtual reality representation is particularly suitable for guiding the user optimally in loading the dishwasher. If, for example, the output unit is integrated on AR glasses, the augmented reality representation is particularly advantageous for supporting the user in loading the dishwasher. 
     According to a further embodiment, the optical sensor comprises a camera, wherein the optical sensor signal comprises an image and/or a video of the dishwasher cavity. 
     According to a further embodiment, the dishwasher integrates the optical sensor, the determining unit and the output unit. 
     According to a further embodiment, the system has a facility that is external to the dishwasher and integrates at least the optical sensor. 
     According to a further embodiment, the external facility integrates the optical sensor and the determining unit. 
     According to a further embodiment, the external facility integrates the optical sensor and the output unit. 
     According to a further embodiment, the external facility integrates the optical sensor, the determining unit and the output unit. 
     According to a further embodiment, the determining unit and the output unit are embodied as part of an app that can be installed on the external facility. 
     The external facility is in particular a mobile device. The mobile device is for example a smartphone, a tablet or a tablet computer. The app can also be referred to as application, application software or application program. The app can be embodied in particular as a program, as a computer program, as software, as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as part of a program code or as an executable object. 
     In particular, the dishwasher comprises a communication unit, which can be connected for example by means of a network to the external facility and thus to the app installed on the external facility. Here, the network comprises in particular a mobile radio network, a WLAN and/or a further wireless or wired data network. 
     According to a second aspect, a system is proposed for a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, with a dishwasher cavity, which can be closed off by a door, with a number of receptacles for items to be washed for accommodating items to be washed, and with a control device for carrying out one washing program from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed. In this context, the system comprises an optical sensor for recording an optical sensor signal of the dishwasher cavity, a determining unit for determining a load state of the dishwasher cavity as a function of the recorded optical sensor signal and an output unit for outputting a positioning recommendation to a user for the purpose of positioning at least one item to be washed in one of the receptacles for items to be washed on the basis of the determined load state. 
     According to a third aspect, a method is proposed for operating a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, with a dishwasher cavity, which can be closed off by a door, with a number of receptacles for items to be washed for accommodating items to be washed, and with a control device for carrying out one washing program from a number of washing programs for washing proposed items to be washed. The method comprises the following steps: 
     recording an optical sensor signal of the dishwasher cavity by means of an optical sensor, 
     determining a load state of the dishwasher cavity as a function of the recorded optical sensor signal, and 
     outputting a positioning recommendation to a user for the purpose of positioning at least one item to be washed in one of the receptacles for items to be washed on the basis of the determined load state. 
     The embodiments and features described for the proposed system apply correspondingly to the proposed method. 
     According to a fourth aspect, a computer program product is proposed which prompts the method as described above to be carried out on a program-controlled facility. 
     A computer program product, such as a computer program means for example, can for example be provided or supplied as a storage medium such as a memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM or DVD for example, or also in the form of a file which can be downloaded from a server in a network. This can take place, for example, in a wireless communications network through the transmission of a corresponding file with the computer program product or the computer program means. 
     Further possible implementations of the invention also comprise combinations—not explicitly cited—of features or embodiments described above or below in respect of the exemplary embodiments. In this context, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or enhancements to the respective basic form of the invention. 
    
    
     
       Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention form the subject matter of the subclaims and of the exemplary embodiments of the invention that are described below. The invention is described below in greater detail on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG.  1    shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system with a household dishwasher; 
         FIG.  2    shows a schematic view of a further exemplary embodiment of a system with a household dishwasher and an external facility; and 
         FIG.  3    shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a household dishwasher. 
     
    
    
     In the figures, elements that are identical or have the same function are provided with the same reference characters unless specified otherwise. 
       FIG.  1    shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system with a household dishwasher  1 . The household dishwasher  1  comprises a dishwasher cavity  2 , which can be closed off by a door  3 , in particular in a watertight manner. A sealing facility can be provided for this purpose between the door  3  and the dishwasher cavity  2  (not shown). The dishwasher cavity  2  is preferably cuboid in shape. The dishwasher cavity  2  can be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher  1 . The dishwasher cavity  2  and the door  3  can form a washing compartment  4  for washing items to be washed. 
     The door  3  is shown in its opened position in  FIG.  1   . 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 aid of the door  3 , a loading opening  6  of the dishwasher cavity  2  can be closed or opened. The dishwasher cavity  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 base  7 , the ceiling  8 , the rear wall  9  and the side walls  10 ,  11  can be manufactured from a stainless-steel sheet, for example. Alternatively, the base  7  can be manufactured from a plastic material, for example. 
     Furthermore, the household dishwasher  1  has at least one receptacle for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14 . Preferably, a plurality of receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14 , for example three, can be provided, wherein the receptacle for items to be washed  12  can be a lower receptacle for items to be washed or a lower basket, the receptacle for items to be washed  13  can be an upper receptacle for items to be washed or an upper basket, and the receptacle for items to be washed  14  can be a cutlery drawer. As additionally shown in  FIG.  1   , the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  are arranged one above the other in the dishwasher cavity  2 . Each receptacle for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  is optionally able to be shifted into or out of the dishwasher cavity  2 . In particular, each receptacle for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  is able to be inserted into the dishwasher cavity  2  in an insertion direction E and extracted from the dishwasher cavity  2  in an extraction direction A opposite to the insertion direction E. 
     An optical sensor  110  embodied as a camera is arranged on the ceiling  8 , such that it is configured to record an optical sensor signal of the dishwasher cavity  2  and in particular the items to be washed arranged in the washing compartment  4 . The dashed lines below the optical sensor  110  indicate a recording region of the optical sensor  110 . It should be noted that the recording region is not limited to the washing compartment  4 . 
     The optical sensor  110  may also be arranged at another place on the dishwasher  1 , for example on an outer shell of the dishwasher  1 . In this context, the optical sensor  110  is arranged in particular in such a manner that it is able to take an image of the items to be washed arranged in the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14 , in particular in the extracted state of the respective receptacle for items to be washed. 
     The household dishwasher  1  also has a control device, a determining unit  120  and an output unit  130 , which are arranged on the door  3 . 
     The control device  100  is configured to carry out one washing program from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed in the dishwasher cavity  2 . 
     The determining unit  120  is configured to determine a load state of the dishwasher cavity  2  as a function of the recorded optical sensor signal. In this context, the determined load state indicates, in particular for each of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13  and  14 , the places at which the respective receptacle for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  is loaded. The determined load state preferably indicates, in particular for each of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13  and  14 , the places at which the respective receptacle for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  is loaded, and in this context with which items to be washed it is loaded. 
     The determined load state thereby indicates existing free spaces in the respective receptacle for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14 . A new item to be washed can be arranged in such a free space, or an item to be washed that has been incorrectly positioned in one of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  can be placed in such a free space. 
     The output unit  130  is configured to output a positioning recommendation to the user of the dishwasher  1  for the purpose of positioning at least one item to be washed in one of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  on the basis of the determined load state. The output unit  130  comprises in particular a visual and/or aural output. For example, the output unit  130  comprises a screen and/or a loudspeaker. The output unit  130  may also be configured to use an augmented reality representation or a virtual reality representation to output the positioning recommendation to the user. 
     In particular, the output unit  130  is also configured, in addition to the determined load state, to also use a target loading of the dishwasher  1  when generating the positioning recommendation for the user for the purpose of positioning the at least one item to be washed. For example, the output unit  130  can load the target loading from a memory of the dishwasher  1 . The target loading of the dishwasher  1  may also be part of the operating guide or the manual of the dishwasher  1 . In the event that the dishwasher  1  has a communication unit (not shown), the target loading may also be loaded via the Internet, for example from a cloud of the dishwasher manufacturer. 
     Furthermore, the optical sensor  110  may also be configured to record an optical sensor signal of an item to be washed. In such a case, the output unit  130  may be configured to take into consideration a geometry, a volume and/or a shape of the item to be washed for the positioning recommendation to the user. Accordingly, the positioning recommendation can be optimized in that, as a function of the geometry, the volume and/or the shape of the item to be washed, an optimal free space is found in one of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  and is also indicated to the user via the positioning recommendation. 
     For example, the determining unit  120  is configured, when determining the load state of the dishwasher cavity  2 , to detect an incorrect positioning of a particular item to be washed that is arranged in one of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14 . If the determining unit  120  detects such an incorrect positioning, the output unit  130  is able to output a positioning recommendation to the user to re-sort the particular item to be washed on the basis of the detected incorrect positioning. To summarize, the determining unit  120  determines the incorrect positioning of a particular item to be washed and the output unit  130  outputs a corresponding positioning recommendation to the user to re-sort the particular item to be washed. 
     An incorrect orientation of a particular item to be washed that is arranged in one of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  is also possible. If, for example, the item to be washed is a cup and the user puts it in one of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  such that the opening is facing upward, then, when the washing program is running, the cup will fill up with washing liquor and thus interfere with or even prevent subsequent drying as the subsequent step of the washing program. In order to prevent this, the determining unit  120  is in particular configured, when determining the load state of the dishwasher cavity  2 , to detect such an incorrect orientation of an item to be washed that is arranged in one of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14 , wherein the output unit  130  is then configured to output a positioning recommendation to rotate, in particular to turn over, the item to be washed on the basis of the detected incorrect orientation. In particular, an incorrect orientation is not only present at an angle of 180°. As the wires of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  may have different angles, an incorrect orientation may already be present at considerably lower degree values. Thus, for example, if the cup is at too low an oblique position in the cup shelf, then washing liquor may accumulate, which prevents a complete drying. In such a case, the positioning recommendation can recommend to the user, for example, to slightly rotate the item to be washed or re-sort it to another place in the dishwasher cavity, in particular a place with a greater incline of the contact surface. 
     Furthermore, the optical sensor  110  is also configured to record an optical sensor signal of a further item to be washed that is to be newly introduced into the dishwasher cavity  2 . The output unit  130  may then be configured to output a positioning recommendation to the user for the purpose of sorting the further item to be washed into one of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  of the dishwasher cavity  2  on the basis of the recorded optical sensor signal of the further item to be washed as well as on the basis of the determined load state. Thus, this positioning recommendation is dependent upon the item to be washed that is currently to be put in place and the currently determined load state of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14 . 
       FIG.  2    shows a schematic view of a further exemplary embodiment of a system with a dishwasher  1  and an external facility  200 . The dishwasher  1  and the external facility  200  may be linked via at least one network  300 , for example the Internet. The exemplary embodiment in  FIG.  2    differs from the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG.  1    in that the optical sensor  110 , the determining unit  120  and the output unit  130  are integrated in the external facility  200 . The external facility  200  is for example a smartphone or a tablet. The optical sensor  110  is for example the camera of the smartphone or tablet. The determining unit  120  and the output unit  130  are integrated at least partly in an app that is installed and run on the external facility  200 , for example. 
       FIG.  3    shows a schematic block diagram of a method for operating a dishwasher  1  with a dishwasher cavity  2 , which can be closed off by a door  3 , with a number of receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  for accommodating items to be washed, and with a control device  100  for carrying out one washing program from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed. An example of a household dishwasher  1  is shown in  FIG.  1   . The method in  FIG.  3    comprises the steps S 1  to S 3 . 
     In step S 1 , an optical sensor signal of the dishwasher cavity  2  is recorded by means of an optical sensor  110 . 
     In step S 2 , a load state of the dishwasher cavity  2  is determined as a function of the recorded optical sensor signal. 
     In step S 3 , a positioning recommendation is output to a user of the dishwasher  1  for the purpose of positioning at least one item to be washed in one of the receptacles for items to be washed  12 ,  13 ,  14  on the basis of the determined load state. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in numerous different ways. 
     REFERENCE CHARACTERS USED 
     
         
           1  Household dishwasher 
           2  Dishwasher cavity 
           3  Door 
           4  Washing compartment 
           5  Pivot axis 
           6  Loading opening 
           7  Base 
           8  Ceiling 
           9  Rear wall 
           10  Side wall 
           11  Side wall 
           12  Receptacle for items to be washed 
           13  Receptacle for items to be washed 
           14  Receptacle for items to be washed 
           100  Control device 
           110  Optical sensor 
           120  Determining unit 
           130  Output unit 
           200  External facility 
           300  Network 
         A Extraction direction 
         E Insertion direction 
         S 1  Method step 
         S 2  Method step 
         S 3  Method step