Patent ID: 8161987

Claim:
A dishwasher comprising: at least one washing container for receiving items to be handled, with the items to be handled being subjected to an operative handling cycle including at least one of a washing step, a rinsing step and a drying step wherein the washing step includes introduction of a cleaning agent and a fluid carrier forming a washing fluid and the rinsing step includes introduction of a rinsing fluid; and a system for recognition of the fluid level of the rinsing fluid contained in the dishwasher, the fluid level recognition system having at least one capacitive filling level sensor having at least two probes, forming two capacitor plates, each operatively coupled to a sensor surface and projecting into the washing container for operative contact with the rinsing fluid, thereby using the rinsing fluid as a dielectric having a dielectric constant that changes with the fill level of the rinsing fluid, wherein at a first fill level the probes and the rinsing fluid form a capacitor having a first capacitance value indicating a first fill level and causing the filling level sensor to sense the first fill level and at a second fill level the probes and the rinsing fluid form a capacitor having a second capacitance value indicating a second fill level and causing the filling level sensor to sense the second fill level, wherein at least two filling level sensors are provided between which an electrical circuit closes at low current as soon as the filling level sensors simultaneously come in contact with the rinsing fluid.