Household dishwasher machine and method for operating a household dishwasher machine

Abstract

A household dishwasher includes a dishwasher cavity for accommodating items to be washed, a controller apparatus configured to perform one wash program from a number of wash programs for washing the items to be washed arranged in the dishwasher cavity, an optical sensor configured to capture an optical sensor signal of the items to be washed arranged in the dishwasher cavity, and an evaluating unit configured to ascertain a loading state of the dishwasher cavity as a function of the captured optical sensor signal of the items to be washed.

Claims

1. A household dishwasher, comprising: a dishwasher cavity for accommodating items to be washed; a controller apparatus configured to perform one wash program from a plurality of wash programs for washing the items to be washed arranged in the dishwasher cavity; an optical sensor configured to capture an optical sensor signal of the items to be washed arranged in the dishwasher cavity; an evaluating unit configured to ascertain a loading state of the dishwasher cavity as a function of the captured optical sensor signal of the items to be washed; and a user interface, wherein the evaluating unit is configured to perform a predetermined action as a function of the ascertained loading state, wherein the predetermined action comprises outputting an item of information to a user via the user interface, and wherein the user interface comprises a display element, wherein the outputting of the information to the user comprises one of a percentage value of the ascertained loading state on the display element or a graphical representation of the ascertained loading state on the display element.

2. The household dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the evaluating unit is configured, as a function of the optical sensor signal, to ascertain a quantity of items to be washed and a type of items to be washed in the dishwasher cavity.

3. The household dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the evaluating unit is configured, as a function of the optical sensor signal, to ascertain a distribution of items to be washed and/or an arrangement of items to be washed in the dishwasher cavity.

4. The household dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the evaluating unit is configured to determine an optimized loading state as a function of the ascertained loading state.

5. The household dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising an illumination device for illuminating the items to be washed arranged in the dishwasher cavity when capturing the optical sensor signal.

6. The household dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor comprises a camera, with the optical sensor signal comprising an image and/or a video of the items to be washed.

7. The household dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the evaluating unit is configured to perform an image analysis of the captured image and/or video in order to ascertain the loading state of the dishwasher cavity.

8. The household dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to transfer the ascertained loading state to a mobile device of the user.

9. The household dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising an indicating device, wherein the predetermined action comprises a highlighting of a position in the dishwasher cavity by the indicating device.

10. The household dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the predetermined action comprises a selection of the wash program to be performed and/or an automatic program start.

11. The household dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the percentage value of the ascertained loading state shown on the display element represents an amount of space that is already occupied by the items to be washed.

12. The household dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation of the ascertained loading state shown on the display element represents an amount of space that is already occupied by the items to be washed and an amount of space that is still free for items to be washed.

13. A method for operating a household dishwasher, said method comprising: capturing by an optical sensor an optical sensor signal of items to be washed in a dishwasher cavity of the household dishwasher; ascertaining by an evaluating unit a loading state of the dishwasher cavity as a function of the captured optical sensor signal of the items to be washed; and selecting a wash program from a plurality of wash programs for washing items to be washed as a function of the loading state, wherein the evaluating unit os configured to perform a predetermined action as a function of the ascertained loading state, the predetermined action comprising outputting an item of information to a user interface having a display element, and wherein the outputting of the information to the user comprises one of a percentage value of the ascertained loading state on the display element or a graphical representation of the ascertained loading state on the display element.

14. A computer program product for operating a household dishwasher, comprising a program-controlled device having stored therein a computer program embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein the computer program, when loaded into the program-controlled device and executed by the program-controlled device, causes the program-controlled device to perform the steps of: capturing by an optical sensor an optical sensor signal of items to be washed in a dishwasher cavity of the household dishwasher; ascertaining by an evaluating unit a loading state of the dishwasher cavity as a function of the captured optical sensor signal of the items to be washed; and selecting a wash program from a plurality of wash programs for washing items to be washed as a function of the loading state, wherein the evaluating unit is configured to perform a predetermined action as a funtion of the ascertained loading state, the predetermined action comprising outputting an item of information to a user interface having a display element, and wherein the outputting of the information to the user comprises one of a percentage value of the ascertained loading state on the display element or a graphical representation of the ascertained loading state on the display element.

15. A household dishwasher, comprising: a dishwasher cavity for accommodating items to be washed; a controller apparatus configured to perform one wash program from a plurality of wash programs for washing the items to be washed arranged in the dishwasher cavity; an optical sensor configured to capture an optical sensor signal of the items to be washed arranged in the dishwasher cavity; an evaluating unit configured to ascertain a loading state of the dishwasher cavity as a function of the captured optical sensor signal of the items to be washed; and an indicating device comprising at least one laser, wherein the evaluating unit is configured to perform a predetermined action as a function of the ascertained loading state, wherein the predetermined action comprises a highlighting of a position in the dishwasher cavity by the indicating device, the highlighting comprising directly marking a particular region in the dishwasher cavity by illuminating the particular region with the at least one laser to indicate space that is still free for items to be washed and wherein the indicating device includes using different illumination colors for different optimization measures and/or signal patterns.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) 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 also described in greater detail on the basis of preferred forms of embodiment with reference to the attached figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a household dishwasher;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a further exemplary embodiment of a household dishwasher;

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b each show an exemplary embodiment of a display element for displaying a loading state of a household dishwasher; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a household dishwasher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(6) In the figures, elements that are identical or have the same function are provided with the same reference characters unless specified otherwise.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a household dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a dishwasher cavity 2, which is able to be closed off by a door 3, in particular in a watertight manner. A sealing facility (not shown) may be provided for this purpose between the door 3 and the dishwasher cavity 2. The dishwasher cavity 2 is preferably cuboid in shape. The dishwasher cavity 2 may be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The dishwasher cavity 2 and the door 3 may form a washing chamber 4 for washing items to be washed 15, 16 (see FIG. 2).

(8) The door 3 is shown in its open position in FIG. 1. The door 3 may 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 bottom 7, a ceiling 8 arranged opposite to the bottom 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another. The bottom 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 11 may be manufactured from a stainless steel sheet for example. Alternatively, the bottom 7 may be manufactured from a plastic material.

(9) 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, may be provided, wherein the receptacle for items to be washed 12 may be a lower receptacle for items to be washed or a lower basket, the receptacle for items to be washed 13 may be an upper receptacle for items to be washed or an upper basket and the receptacle for items to be washed 14 may be a cutlery drawer. As additionally shown in FIG. 1, the receptacles for items to be washed 12, 13, 14 are arranged above one another in the dishwasher cavity 2. Each receptacle for items to be washed 12 to 14 is optionally able to be shifted into or out from the dishwasher cavity 2. Each receptacle for items to be washed 12, 13, 14 is able be inserted into the dishwasher cavity 2 in an insertion direction E and pulled out from the dishwasher cavity 2 in a pull-out direction A opposite to the insertion direction E.

(10) The household dishwasher 1 additionally has a controller apparatus 100 and also an evaluating unit 120, which are arranged on the door 3. An optical sensor 110 embodied as a camera is arranged on the ceiling 8, so that it is configured for capturing an optical sensor signal of the items to be washed 15, 16 arranged in the dishwasher cavity 2 (see FIG. 2). The dashed lines below the camera 110 indicate a capture region of the camera 110.

(11) By combining the camera 110 and the evaluating unit 120, it is advantageously possible to ascertain a loading state of the dishwasher cavity 2. This is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a further exemplary embodiment of a household dishwasher 1, for example a variant of the household dishwasher 1 in FIG. 1.

(13) In the representation in FIG. 2, the door 3 of the household dishwasher 1 is closed. A lower receptacle for items to be washed 12 and an upper receptacle for items to be washed 13 are arranged in the dishwasher cavity 2. Arranged on the door 3 are a controller apparatus 100 and an evaluating unit 120. Furthermore, a display element 140 embodied as a digital display is arranged on the front side of the door 3. Arranged on the ceiling 8 are an optical sensor 110 and an illumination device 130. Moreover, a further optical sensor 110 may be arranged on a side wall 10, 11 of the dishwasher cavity 2 for example (not shown). The use of a plurality of optical sensors 110 is advantageous in order to capture the entire dishwasher cavity 2, in particular the entirety of the items to be washed 15, 16 arranged therein. For example, a large item to be washed 15, 16, such as a bowl, may partially cover a sensing region of an optical sensor 110, so that an item to be washed 15, 16 lying behind from the perspective of the optical sensor 110 is not captured. By correspondingly arranging one or more further optical sensors 110, this problem can be solved.

(14) The situation shown corresponds to a partial loading of the dishwasher cavity 2 of the household dishwasher 1. The lower receptacle for items to be washed 12 is loaded with an item to be washed 16, which here is embodied as a large salad bowl. The upper receptacle for items to be washed 13 is loaded with five items to be washed 15, which are each embodied as plates.

(15) The optical sensor 110 is configured to capture an optical sensor signal of the item to be washed 15, 16. In the present case, the optical sensor 110 is supported by an illumination device 130 for this purpose. Together, the optical sensor with the illumination device 130 forms a laser scanner for example. The optical sensor 110 further comprises an imaging camera, in order to increase an informational content of the captured optical sensor signal. For example, the optical sensor 110 already captures the optical sensor signal when loading a respective receptacle for items to be washed 12, 13 with items to be washed. Because the capturing already happens during the loading, which in particular takes place with a pulled-out receptacle for items to be washed 12, 13, the optical sensor 110 advantageously captures a number of optical sensor signals of the items to be washed 15, 16 at different viewing angles in each case. From these optical sensor signals captured at different viewing angles, it is possible to ascertain the loading state in a particularly reliable manner. The optical sensor 110 provides the captured optical sensor signal to the evaluating unit 120.

(16) The evaluating unit 120 is embodied for example as a digital signal processor. This processes the optical sensor signal digitally and ascertains a loading state therefrom. Should the optical sensor signal be provided as an analog electrical signal, an A/D converter assigned to the digital signal processor converts the analog signal into a digital signal.

(17) The digital signal processor 120 is particularly configured to perform a predetermined action as a function of the ascertained loading state. This is explained in more detail below with reference to both FIGS. 3a and 3b.

(18) FIGS. 3a and 3b each show an exemplary embodiment of a display element 140 for displaying a loading state of a household dishwasher 1, in particular of the household dishwasher 1 in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. The predetermined action, which the evaluating unit 120 performs in this context, is the outputting of the ascertained loading state by means of the display element 140.

(19) FIG. 3a shows an exemplary embodiment of the display element 140 which has been kept particularly simple. In this context, the display element 140 is configured to represent a percentage as the respective loading state for two receptacles for items to be washed 12, 13 (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 2), in particular for a lower receptacle for items to be washed 12 and for an upper receptacle for items to be washed 13. To this end, the evaluating unit 120 (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) ascertains for example the loading state of a respective receptacle for items to be washed 12, 13 as a percentage, wherein 0% corresponds to a completely unloaded or empty receptacle for items to be washed 12, 13 and 100% corresponds to a completely loaded or full receptacle for items to be washed 12, 13. Here, the upper half of the display element 140 indicates the loading state of the upper receptacle for items to be washed 13 and the lower half indicates the loading state of the lower receptacle for items to be washed 12. The percentages shown correspond, for example, to the value which would be ascertained with a loading as shown in FIG. 2.

(20) FIG. 3b shows a somewhat more complex exemplary embodiment of the display element 140. It has been conceived as already shown in FIG. 2a, wherein instead of a percentage value a graphical representation is shown of space which is occupied and space which is still free in a respective receptacle for items to be washed 12, 13. The graphical representation of the loading state shown again corresponds for example to the loading state which would be ascertained with a loading as shown in FIG. 2. The upper half of the display element 140 again shows the loading of the upper receptacle for items to be washed 13. In this context, a total of six rows for the accommodation of items to be washed 15, 16 can be identified, wherein the third row from the bottom, which in this representation corresponds to the third row from the left in FIG. 2, is still empty. For this reason, it is shown without texture. The other five rows are each loaded with a plate 15, for which reason they are shown as occupied by a texture. Accordingly, the lower half of the display element 140 indicates the loading state of the lower receptacle for items to be washed 12. In this context, the lower region is shown without a texture to over halfway, which corresponds to a free capacity. Only the upper region is shown with a texture, as the salad bowl 16 is arranged there.

(21) The representation in FIG. 3b is more complex and contains more information than that of FIG. 3a. On the one hand, this has the advantage that a user is in particular able to estimate whether there is still free space for a large item to be washed. On the other hand, it takes somewhat longer to understand the loading state. In advantageous embodiments, it may therefore be provided that the two displays are combined, for example by a secondary representation or by an option of switching between the representations. In particular, there may be provision for example that it is detected by a proximity sensor (not shown) whether a user remains in the vicinity of the household dishwasher 1. If the user is close to the household dishwasher 1, then the more complex view is shown in accordance with FIG. 3b for example. If the user is further away, then the view in FIG. 3a, which is simple to understand, is shown with large numbers, which also remain readily understandable at a greater distance from the household dishwasher 1.

(22) In addition to these two exemplary embodiments of a representation of the loading state, many others are conceivable.

(23) Not shown, but likewise possible, are exemplary embodiments, in which the predetermined action performed by the evaluating unit 120 as a function of the ascertained loading state comprises a determination of an optimized loading state and an outputting of the optimized loading state. The outputting of the ascertained and/or of the optimized loading state may further take place by means of a communication unit (not shown), in particular to a mobile device, such as a smartphone, of the user. An automatic selection of an optimal wash program while taking into consideration the loading state and/or an automatic starting of a wash program are also possible as the predetermined action.

(24) FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a household dishwasher 1, in particular the household dishwasher 1 in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

(25) In a first method step S1, an optimal sensor signal of items to be washed 15, 16 arranged in a dishwasher cavity 2 (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) of the household dishwasher 1 is captured by means of an optical sensor 110.

(26) The optical sensor 110 is, for example, embodied on a camera, which captures a large number of images at different points in time.

(27) In a second method step S2, an evaluating unit 120 ascertains a loading state of the dishwasher cavity 2 as a function of the captured optical sensor signal.

(28) For example, to this end the evaluating unit 120 performs an image analysis of each image of the large number of captured images, while taking into consideration the different points in time of the capture. Furthermore, the evaluating unit 120 may stipulate, by means of a comparison of two images in each case, at which point new items to be washed have been sorted.

(29) Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in numerous different ways. For example, the information regarding the loading state may be used in combination with further usage data of the household dishwasher in order to achieve an intelligent automatic control of the household dishwasher. For example, an automatic program start may also be sensible with a low loading state, if from experience-based values it is known that no items to be washed usually accumulate over weekends, in order to prevent a buildup of odors in this manner. In this context, the further usage data may be collected as experience-based values during the course of the use and/or further data sources, such as an electronic calendar of a user for example, may be called on.