Patent application EP20169208A (EP), filed 2020-04-10
Publication number: EP3751454A1
Title: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREPARING AND PERFORMING A LAUNDRY WASHING CYCLE
Abstract: A method for preparing and performing a laundry washing cycle by means of a washing machine (1) comprises:- providing a washing machine (1),- arranging the laundry (2) to be washed in the form of a bulk pile (3) at the washing machine (1),- acquiring a digital color image (4) of the bulk laundry pile (3) and of at least one part (5) of the washing machine (1),- determining a volume (Vb) of the laundry pile (3) and/or a weight (Pb) of the laundry pile (3) as a function of characteristics of the digital color image (4),- determining a weighed presence of predetermined color categories (11) in the laundry pile (3) as a function of characteristics of the digital color image (4),- determining washing parameters depending on the weighed presence of color categories (11) in the determined laundry pile (3) and depending on the calculated weight (Pb) and/or volume (Vb) of the laundry pile (3),- generating a washing preparation notification, which can be consulted by the user, said washing preparation notification containing at least one washing instruction, based on said determined washing parameters and which is executable by the washing machine (1), as well as one or more from:- a request for confirmation,- auxiliary washing preparation advices in addition to the washing instruction which is executable by the washing machine (1).
IPC codes: D06F  34/    18            A I
G06T   7/    62            A I
G06T   7/    90            A I
G06V  20/    00            A I
Claims: number: 1
text: A method for preparing and performing a laundry washing cycle by means of a washing machine (1), in particular a domestic washing machine, comprising the steps of:
number: 2
text: A method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:
number: 3
text: A method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the steps of:
number: 4
text: A method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of acquiring the digital color image (4) is carried out by a handheld electronic device (14) provided with digital image acquisition means (15).
number: 5
text: A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of acquiring the digital color image (4) comprises:
number: 6
text: A method according to one of the preceding claims, when depending on claim 2, wherein the step of identifying and/or selecting, in the acquired digital image (4), the laundry boundary (6) comprises:
number: 7
text: A method according to claims 2 and 4, wherein the step of identifying the reference boundary (7) comprises:
number: 8
text: A method according to one of the preceding claims, when depending on claim 2, wherein the step of calculating the laundry volume (Vb) comprises the steps of:
number: 9
text: A method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of determining the weight (Pb) of the laundry pile (3) comprises:
number: 10
text: A method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the determination of the weighed presence of color categories (11) comprises calculating the percentages of the color categories (11) in the laundry pile (3), as a function of the sums of pixels for each of said color categories (11).
number: 11
text: A method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the determination of the weighed presence of color categories (11) comprises:
number: 12
text: A method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising:
number: 13
text: A method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of determining the washing parameters comprises:
number: 14
text: A method according to claim 13, wherein the steps of temporary selection and final selection are carried out depending on:
number: 15
text: A method according to claims 3 and 4, wherein the transmission of the washing instruction to the electronic control system (12) of the washing machine (1) occurs by wireless signal connection between the handheld electronic device (14) and the electronic control system (12) of the washing machine (1).
number: 16
text: A method according to claims 2 and 4, wherein the steps of identifying and/or selecting the reference boundary (7) and the laundry boundary (6) are carried out by the handheld electronic device (14), and digital data representative of the digital image (4) and of the reference boundary (7) and of the laundry boundary (6) are transmitted from the handheld electronic device (14) to a remote electronic device (16),
wherein the calculation of the laundry volume (Vb) is carried out by the remote electronic device (16),
wherein the calculation of the laundry weight (Pb) is carried out by the remote electronic device (16), and digital data representative of the laundry weight (Pb) are transmitted from the remote electronic device (16) to the handheld electronic device (14),
wherein the determination of the weighed presence of color categories (11) is carried out by the remote electronic device (16), and digital data representative of the weighed presence of the color categories (11) are transmitted from the remote electronic device (16) to the handheld electronic device (14),
wherein the step of determining the washing parameters is automatically carried out by the handheld electronic device (14), wherein the handheld electronic device (14) receives, from the remote electronic device (16), the digital data representative of the weighed presence of color categories, and the digital data representative of the laundry volume (Vb) and/or laundry weight (Pb), and, if any, the data representative of the presence of fabric categories.
number: 17
text: A system (21) for preparing and performing a cycle for washing laundry (2) by means of a washing machine (1), said system (21) comprising:
number: 18
text: A system (21) according to claim 17, comprising:
number: 19
text: A system (21) according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the electronic data processing system (22) comprises:
Office action: search_report, dated 2020-12-16
Prior art cited: ref_id: DE102013210996A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: CN109610132A
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2016224860A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2019093276A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2008276964A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2008276964
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: DE102013210996
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2016224860
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2019093276
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: CN109610132
ref_type: patent
severity: background
Final disposition: pending (2020-12-16)