The invention relates to a low cost sensor array suitable for use in a ware washing machine, preferably a dish washing machine. The invention also relates to a standalone detergent dispensing device comprising the low cost sensor array. The sensor systems are intended to allow monitoring of wash cycles such that controlled sequential dosing of reagents in wash cycles can be optimized. A device comprising such a sensor system may then be able to sense the conditions of the wash and dose reagents in their optimal sequence in the wash.

A dishwasher appliance includes a cabinet defining a wash chamber, a sensor disposed in the wash chamber, and a controller in signal communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to adjust to one of a plurality of transfer functions in response to an output of the sensor. Each of the plurality of transfer functions is associated with a respective one of a plurality of sensor types.

A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that defines a transition fill level where the cross sectional area of the sump increases. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller calibrates the pressure sensor by monitoring a sump pressure and determining when the wash fluid has reached the transition fill level. A measured transition pressure is taken at this point and compared to a target transition pressure that is known based on the sump geometry. A slope correction factor is calculated based on the measured transition pressure and the target transition pressure to obtain improved pressure readings and wash fluid level measurements.

A system for ascertaining fresh water consumption by an, in particular, commercial dishwasher (1) or a component thereof. The system includes a container (12, 22) for temporarily storing liquids, wherein the container (12, 22) has a liquid inlet (25), which can be flow-connected to a fresh water source if required, and a liquid outlet (23), which can be flow-connected to a freshwater consuming means, in particular a freshwater consuming means of the dishwasher (1), if required. The system further includes at least one pressure sensor (B3, B4) for detecting an, in particular, hydrostatic pressure in the container (12, 22), and an evaluation device which is designed to ascertain a fresh water volume flow into the container (12, 22) depending on at least one output value of the at least one pressure sensor (B3, B4).

A device for customizing a washing program for removing soiling from items being washed in a water-conducting household appliance includes a sensor configured to acquire spectral measurement values of organic compounds in washing water in the water-conducting household appliance. A determination unit determines functional groups of the organic compounds based on the acquired spectral measurement values of the organic compounds, and a customization unit customizes washing parameters of a current washing program based on the determined functional groups.

The present inventive concept relates to a device (500) utilizing water for a group of cleaning procedures, wherein each cleaning procedure (100) in the group of cleaning procedures comprises a plurality of cleaning phases (102, 104, 106, 108) each using cleaning phase water having a substance content with respect to a number of substances, wherein the device (500) comprises a sensor arrangement (554) configured to determine a first substance content (110) with respect to at least one of the number of substances in first cleaning phase water from a first cleaning phase (102) being part of the plurality of cleaning phases (102, 104, 106, 108); wherein the device (500) is configured to end the first cleaning phase (102) if a pre-determined condition related to the first substance content (110) and associated with the first cleaning phase (102) has been met.

A dishwasher includes a dishwasher interior for washing items to be washed with washing liquor. Arranged at a lower end of the dishwasher interior is a pump sump for collecting the washing liquor, and a sensor is arranged in the pump sump for outputting a sensor signal as a function of a presence of washing liquor at the sensor. A control apparatus configured to carry out a washing program selected from a number of washing programs is designed to determine a malfunction of a component of a hydraulic assembly as a function of the sensor signal and of a current operating state of the dishwasher.

A turbidity sensor for a water-bearing domestic appliance includes a sensor housing having a housing main part and two housing projections protruding from the housing main part side by side and at a distance from one another, where the two housing projections delimit between them a measuring channel for a liquid to be measured. One of the housing projections emits a measuring light beam along a measuring path which runs transversely through the measuring channel to the other housing projection. The measuring path crosses the measuring channel in the channel longitudinal direction remote from a point of smallest channel width of the measuring channel or the measuring channel has a constriction at a longitudinal distance from its longitudinal midpoint, at which constriction the channel width is smaller than in a region of a longitudinal midpoint.

A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that collects wash fluid and defines a mounting port for receiving a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes an adapter that defines a plurality of sensor ports for receiving different sensors, such as a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a turbidity sensor. The adapter is translucent to facilitate turbidity sensing without introducing leak points. In addition, the adapter defines an internal chamber for receiving the wash fluid and an air chamber defined above the internal chamber to prevent direct contact between the wash fluid and the pressure sensor.

A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that defines a transition fill level where the cross sectional area of the sump increases. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller calibrates the pressure sensor by monitoring a sump pressure and determining when the wash fluid has reached the transition fill level. A measured transition pressure is taken at this point and compared to a target transition pressure that is known based on the sump geometry. A slope correction factor is calculated based on the measured transition pressure and the target transition pressure to obtain improved pressure readings and wash fluid level measurements.