HANDHELD SCANNER FOR IMPROVED STAIN DETECTION, SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH A HANDHELD SCANNER, AND METHOD FOR OPERATION THEREOF

Abstract

A handheld scanner contains an IR spectrometer with a radiation source and a radiation detector, a control unit, an interface for wireless data communication, and a RGB sensor. The handheld scanner is configured to detect soiling on a laundry item. Additionally, the handheld scanner can be integrated into a system, and used in a method for operating the system.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A handheld scanner, comprising: an infrared (IR) spectrometer having a radiation source and a radiation detector; a controller; an interface for wireless data communication; a red, green, blue (RGB) sensor; and the handheld scanner being configured for detecting soiling on a laundry item.

17. The handheld scanner according to claim 16, further comprising an optical and/or acoustic display device for displaying evaluated data from said IR spectrometer and/or said RGB sensor.

18. The handheld scanner according to claim 16, further comprising an input for entering inputs from a user.

19. The handheld scanner according to claim 17, wherein: said controller is configured for communication with an external server via said interface for wireless data communication, in the communication first data and/or second data of said IR spectrometer and/or said RGB sensor relative to laundry items measured by the handheld scanner at a reference point and at a stain point is transmitted to the external server, the first data and the second data being evaluated in the external server regarding a type and/or quantity of soiling, and results of evaluations are then transmitted as third data to the handheld scanner and/or a laundry treatment appliance.

20. The handheld scanner according to claim 19, wherein the third data is transmitted to the handheld scanner where it is displayed on said optical and/or acoustic display device.

21. The handheld scanner according to claim 20, wherein a user may make additional inputs based on the third data relative to soiling.

22. The handheld scanner according to claim 19, wherein the first data and the second data being evaluated in the external server regarding a fiber material, a fiber component and/or a visual color and results of evaluations are then transmitted as part of the third data to the handheld scanner and/or the laundry treatment appliance.

23. The handheld scanner according to claim 21, wherein a user may make additional inputs based on the third data relative to measured laundry items.

24. A system for treating laundry items, the system comprising: an external server; a laundry treatment appliance; and a handheld scanner having an infrared spectrometer with a radiation source and a radiation detector, a controller, an interface for wireless data communication with said external server and a red, green, blue sensor, said handheld scanner further configured to detect soiling on the laundry items.

25. A method for operating a system for treating laundry items, the system having a handheld scanner, an external server and a laundry treatment appliance, wherein the handheld scanner having an infrared spectrometer with a radiation source and a radiation detector, a controller, an interface for wireless data communication with the external server and a red, green, blue sensor, which comprises the steps of: (a) scanning at least one laundry item with the handheld scanner at a reference point, and recording an IR spectrum and/or RGB sensor signals; (b) transmitting the IR spectrum obtained in step (a) and/or the RGB sensor signals obtained in step (a) as first data to the external server; (c) scanning the at least one laundry item of step (a) with the handheld scanner at a stain point of the at least one laundry item having soiling; (d) transmitting an IR spectrum obtained in step (c) and/or RGB sensor signals obtained in step (c) as second data to the external server; (e) evaluating the IR spectrum and/or the RGB sensor signals regarding a type and/or quantity of soiling as third data; and (f) transmitting the third data to the handheld scanner and/or the laundry treatment appliance.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein in step (f), transmitting the third data to the handheld scanner and displaying the third data on an acoustic and/or optical display device of the handheld scanner.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein in step (a) at the reference point and in step (c) at the at least one stain point three color values, namely a red, a green and a blue value, and a clear value which corresponds to a total light reflected, are recorded as the RGB sensor signals.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein in step (e) RGB values measured at the stain point and at the reference point are subtracted from one another.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein in a step (al) when the radiation source of the IR spectrometer is switched off a dark spectrum D is recorded.

30. The method according to claim 25, wherein in order to obtain a reflection spectrum R of the stain, a reflection spectrum I recorded in step (c) at the stain point is compared with a reflection spectrum I.sub.c measured in step (a) at the reference point, wherein by considering a dark spectrum D the following formula is used for determining the reflection spectrum R:
R=(ID)/(I.sub.cD).

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein laundry treatment programs are assigned to the third data in the laundry treatment appliance according to an input of mechanical energy into the laundry items.

32. The method according to claim 25, wherein at least one laundry treatment program is assigned to the third data in the laundry treatment appliance according to the type and/or quantity of soiling.

Description

[0077] Further details of the invention are disclosed in the following description of non-limiting embodiments. In this case reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0078] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a handheld scanner according to the invention.

[0079] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a system according to the invention comprising a handheld scanner, an external server and a laundry treatment appliance.

[0080] FIG. 1 shows a non-limiting embodiment of a handheld scanner 1 according to the invention. The embodiment of the handheld scanner 1 with a spherical housing is visible by way of example and serves merely for illustration. According to the invention, the outer design of the handheld scanner is not limited. The handheld scanner 1 has an RGB sensor 2 by means of which the visual color and/or color information 7 of a laundry item 10 and, in particular, of the soiling thereof may be established. In this case, at a reference point which generally has no soiling and at one or more stain points, in each case the visual color is measured by the values r=red, g=green, b=blue and c=clear (reference), which is transmitted by the control unit 6 and an interface 11 for wireless data communication to an external server (cloud), not shown here. The handheld scanner 1 additionally has an IR spectrometer 3, in this case an NIR spectrometer, which comprises a radiation source 4 and a radiation detector 5. By means of the IR spectrometer 3 the type and quantity of soiling and preferably also the fiber material and the fiber component in the laundry item 10 may be determined, by the laundry item 10 in a first measurement at the reference point and in a second measurement at the soiled point being subjected to radiation 8 from the radiation source 4 and the radiation detector 5 detecting the reflected radiation 9 in each case as a measured signal. The data determined by the RGB sensor 2 and the IR spectrometer 3, so-called first and second data, is transmitted to the external server, not shown, which together with the handheld scanner 1 and a laundry treatment appliance, also not shown here, forms a system for treating laundry items in which a method is carried out, comprising the steps [0081] (a) first scanning of at least one laundry item with the handheld scanner at a reference point, and recording an IR spectrum and/or RGB sensor signals; [0082] (b) transmitting the IR spectrum obtained in step (a) and/or the RGB sensor signals obtained in step (a) as first data to the external server; [0083] (c) second scanning of the at least one laundry item (10) of step (a) with the handheld scanner 1 at a stain point of the at least one laundry item 10 having soiling; [0084] (d) transmitting the IR spectrum obtained in step (c) and/or the RGB sensor signals obtained in step (c) as second data to the external server; [0085] (e) evaluating the IR spectra and/or the RGB sensor signals regarding the type and/or quantity of soiling as third data; and [0086] (f) transmitting the third data to the handheld scanner 1 and/or the laundry treatment appliance.

[0087] The handheld scanner 1 has an operating unit 12. Via the operating unit 12, for example via an input mask, at least one piece of information relative to the laundry item 10 and the soiling thereof may be input by a user. To this end, so-called third data is shown to the user on an acoustic and optical display device 13. In addition to information relative to soiling and the laundry items per se as third data, proposals for the further treatment and, in particular, stain removal may also be made to a user. The embodiment shown here is a display of types of soiling but preferably also types of clothing and/or groups of types of clothing which are the most probable relative to the fiber materials and fiber components using the evaluation in the external server. These types of soiling are preferably arranged on the display device. Information about stain classifications or the display of an evaluation of the stains regarding their chemical composition is possible here, for example hydrocarbons, proteins, fats, acids, sugars, etc.

[0088] Finally, for optimal stain removal the type of clothing may also be considered, wherein in addition to the automatic determination it is also possible for this to be assisted by the user who may input further information relevant thereto. In this case, preferably types of clothing and/or groups of types of clothing are arranged on the display device 13 with a reducing probability of their occurrence. In such an embodiment of the invention a user may select one of these types of clothing and/or groups of types of clothing as an input on the operating unit 12, preferably by contact with an operating device designed as a touchscreen, which combines the functions of an operating unit 12 and display device 13.

[0089] The data transmitted in the steps (b) and (d) to the external server, i.e. IR spectra and RGB sensor signals, is namely evaluated there and in step (e) transmitted as third data to the handheld scanner 1 and displayed on the acoustic and optical display device 13 of the handheld scanner 1, where based on the third data a user preferably makes additional inputs relative to the soiling, in particular the type and quantities thereof, and optionally an additional input relative to the measured laundry items 10 per se.

[0090] FIG. 2 shows a non-limiting embodiment of a system 14 according to the invention comprising a handheld scanner 1, an external server 28 and a washing machine 15 as a non-limiting example of a laundry treatment appliance.

[0091] The handheld scanner 1 has an operating unit 12. Via the operating unit 12, for example via an input mask, at least one piece of information may be input by a user relative to the laundry item 10 and, in particular, relative to one or more types of soiling of the laundry item 10. To this end, so-called third data is displayed to the user on an acoustic and optical display device 13. This information serves for complementing the already evaluated first and second data of IR spectrometer 3 and RGB sensor 2 relative to the soiling and optionally the laundry items 10 per se. For example, in addition to information about stains, information about the type of laundry item, such as blouses, undergarments, bed linen, long-sleeved or short-sleeved shirts, etc. is also included therein. Otherwise, the reference numerals have the same significance as in FIG. 1.

[0092] In the embodiment shown here, the handheld scanner 1, the washing machine 15 and the external server 28 may wirelessly communicate with one another, even if the interface for wireless communication is shown only for the handheld scanner 1.

[0093] The washing machine 15 used in this embodiment in the system 14 has a tub 16 in which a drum 17 for receiving laundry items 10 is rotatably mounted about an axis located perpendicular to the plane of the figure. Laundry agitators 18 are arranged in the drum 17. The washing machine 15 also has an automatic dosage unit 25 for treatment means which is attached to a detergent dispenser tray 22. Via the detergent dispenser tray 22 the tub 16 may be supplied with water from a fresh water line 23. To this end, a check valve 21, which is activated by a control unit 20 according to a treatment program sequence, is located in the fresh water line 23. The washing machine 15 in this embodiment also has an optical and acoustic display unit 19 which is designed for displaying information in the form of text, images and/or animation in black/white and/or color. In principle, the information shown on the handheld scanner 1 is also displayed on the optical and acoustic display unit 19. Similarly, an input by a user may optionally also be made directly on the washing machine 15.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0094] 1 Handheld scanner [0095] 2 RGB sensor [0096] 3 IR spectrometer, in particular NIR spectrometer [0097] 4 Radiation source [0098] 5 Radiation detector [0099] 6 Control unit (in handheld scanner) [0100] 7 Color information [0101] 8 Emitted radiation [0102] 9 Reflected radiation [0103] 10 Laundry item [0104] 11 Interface for wireless data communication in handheld scanner [0105] 12 Operating unit (for example touchscreen) [0106] 13 Optical and/or acoustic display device in handheld scanner [0107] 14 System for treating laundry items [0108] 15 Laundry treatment appliance; washing machine or washer dryer [0109] 16 Tub [0110] 17 Treatment chamber (drum) [0111] 18 Laundry agitators [0112] 19 Optical or acoustic display device of the washing machine [0113] 20 Control unit (in washing machine) [0114] 21 Check valve [0115] 22 Detergent dispenser tray [0116] 23 Fresh water line [0117] 24 Drainage line [0118] 25 (Automatic) dosage unit [0119] 26 Drive motor [0120] 27 Pump [0121] 28 External server (in particular in a cloud) [0122] 29 Lint remover [0123] 30 Tub drainage line