DISHWASHER, ARRANGEMENT HAVING A DISHWASHER, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DISHWASHER

Abstract

A dishwasher includes a controller for executing a washing program for washing a dirty item to be washed, and a receiving unit for receiving a sensor signal indicative of a dirt type adhering to the dirty item to be washed from a plurality of dirt types, with each of the dirt types being determined by a dirt parameter matrix, in which each position is assigned to a dirt parameter. A determining unit determines the dirt type adhering to the dirty item to be washed as a function of the received sensor signal, with the controller executing the washing program as a function of the determined dirt type.

Claims

1.-15 (canceled)

16. A dishwasher, comprising: a controller configured to execute a washing program for washing a dirty item to be washed; a receiving unit configured to receive a sensor signal indicative of a dirt type adhering to the dirty item to be washed from a plurality of dirt types, with each of the dirt types being determined by a dirt parameter matrix, in which each position is assigned to a dirt parameter; and a determining unit configured to determine the dirt type adhering to the dirty item to be washed as a function of the received sensor signal, wherein the controller is configured to execute the washing program as a function of the determined dirt type.

17. The dishwasher of claim 16, constructed in the form of a household dishwasher.

18. The dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the sensor signal comprises an image information of the dirty item to be washed.

19. The dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the determining unit comprises an image processing unit which is configured to determine as a function of the image information a value of the dirt parameter contained in the dirt parameter matrix.

20. The dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising: a database unit configured to store a dirt parameter matrix for each of a plurality of dirt types, with the dirt parameter matrices comprising each a predetermined value or value range for the dirt parameters; a generating unit configured to generate a current one of the dirt parameter matrices as a function of the determined value of the dirt parameter; and a comparison unit configured to compare the generated current one of the dirt parameter matrices with at least one subset of the dirt parameter matrices stored in the database unit and to output a comparison result, wherein the determining unit is configured to determine the dirt type adhering to the dirty item to be washed as a function of the comparison result.

21. The dishwasher of claim 20, further comprising a learning unit configured to adapt at least one of the dirt parameter matrices stored in the database unit as a function of determined values of at least one of the dirt parameters.

22. The dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the sensor signal comprises information relating to a washing liquor used for washing the dirty item to be washed.

23. The dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the sensor signal comprises information relating to a food prepared and/or consumed by a user of the dishwasher in a specific time interval before a start of the washing program.

24. The dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to adapt execution of the washing program while running.

25. The dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising a camera arranged on the dishwasher and configured to detect an optical sensor signal of the item to be washed and to output the detected optical sensor signal to the receiving unit.

26. The dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising a statistics unit configured to determine a frequency distribution which comprises a frequency of the occurrence of different dirt types, said determining unit being configured to determine the dirt type adhering to the dirty item to be washed as a function of the frequency distribution.

27. The dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising a communication unit configured to communicate with an external unit selected from the group consisting of an external kitchen appliance, a mobile device, and a server.

28. The dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising a user interface configured to detect a user input as a function of the dirt type determined by the determining unit.

29. An arrangement, comprising: a dishwasher comprising a controller configured to execute a washing program for washing a dirty item to be washed, a receiving unit configured to receive a sensor signal indicative of a dirt type adhering to the dirty item to be washed from a plurality of dirt types, with each of the dirt types being determined by a dirt parameter matrix, in which each position is assigned to a dirt parameter, and a determining unit configured to determine the dirt type adhering to the dirty item to be washed as a function of the received sensor signal, wherein the controller is configured to execute the washing program as a function of the determined dirt type; and a computing unit, wherein the dishwasher and the computing unit are configured for data communication with one another.

30. The arrangement of claim 29, wherein the dishwasher is constructed in the form of a household dishwasher.

31. A method for operating a dishwasher, the method comprising: receiving a sensor signal indicative of a dirt type adhering to a dirty item to be washed from a plurality of dirt types; determining each of the dirt types by a dirt parameter matrix in which each position is assigned to a dirt parameter; determining the dirt type adhering to the dirty item to be washed as a function of the sensor signal; and executing with a controller a washing program as a function of the determined dirt type.

32. A computer program product for operating a dishwasher, comprising: a computer program embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium; and commands which, when the computer program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute a method as set forth in claim 31.

Description

[0066] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention form the subject matter of the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described hereinafter. The invention is described in more detail hereinafter by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a dishwasher;

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a general example of a dirt parameter matrix;

[0069] FIG. 3 shows specific examples of three dirt parameter matrices;

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a dishwasher,

[0071] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary arrangement with a dishwasher and a computing unit; and

[0072] FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher.

[0073] Elements which are the same or functionally the same are provided with the same reference characters in the figures unless specified otherwise.

[0074] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a dishwasher 1 which is configured in this case as a household dishwasher. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a washing container 2 which can be closed by a door 3, in particular in a water-tight manner. To this end, a sealing device may be provided between the door 3 and the washing container 2. The washing container 2 is preferably cuboidal. The washing container 2 may be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The washing container 2 and the door 3 may form a washing chamber 4 for washing items to be washed 30.

[0075] The door 3 is shown in FIG. 1 in its open position. The door 3 may be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided on a lower end of the door 3. A loading opening 6 of the washing container 2 may be closed or opened by means of the door 3. The washing container 2 has a bottom 7, a ceiling 8 arranged opposite the bottom 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3, and two opposingly arranged side walls 10, 11. The bottom 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 11 may be manufactured, for example, from a stainless steel sheet. Alternatively, the bottom 7 may be manufactured, for example, from a plastic material.

[0076] The household dishwasher 1 also has at least one receptacle for items to be washed 12 to 14. Preferably, a plurality of receptacles for items to be washed 12 to 14, for example three thereof, 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 FIG. 1 also shows, the receptacles for items to be washed 12 to 14 are arranged one above the other in the washing container 2. Each receptacle for items to be washed 12 to 14 is able to be selectively displaced into or out of the washing container 2. In particular, each receptacle for items to be washed 12 to 14 is able to be pushed or moved into the washing container 2 in a push-in direction E, and is able to be pulled or moved out of the washing container 2 in a pull-out direction A counter to the push-in direction E.

[0077] A controller 15 is also arranged on the door 3 for executing a washing program for washing dirty items to be washed 30. The controller 15 comprises in this example a receiving unit 16 (see FIG. 4) for receiving a sensor signal indicative of a dirt type SA, SB, SC adhering to the dirty items to be washed 30 from a plurality of dirt types SA, SB, SC. Each of the dirt types SA, SB, SC is determined by a dirt parameter matrix MXA, MXB, MXC (see FIG. 3). The dirt is, for example, fat SA, remnants of rice SB and a dark sauce SC. Moreover, the controller 15 has a determining unit 20 (see FIG. 4) which is configured to determine the dirt type SA, SB, SC adhering to the dirty items to be washed 30 as a function of the received sensor signal. The controller 15 executes the washing program as a function of the determined dirt type SA, SB, SC in order to achieve an improved cleaning result.

[0078] FIG. 2 shows a general example of a dirt parameter matrix SMX. The general form of the dirt parameter matrix SMX shown has a number of n.sup.xm entries, wherein n is the number of lines and m the number of columns. Each of the entries a_11, a_12, . . . , a_1m, a_21, . . . a_n1, . . . a_nm represents a dirt parameter.

[0079] Dirt parameters a_11-a_nm may be subdivided, for example, into different categories or classes. An example of such a subdivision is shown in the following Table 1. The examples shown in Table 1 for dirt parameters a_11-a_nm are based on an optical sensor signal which comprises image information of the dirty items to be washed 30 (see FIG. 1). The image information is received in particular as a digital image, which comprises a plurality of pixels, from the receiving unit 16. Those pixels which show soiling are denoted in Table 1 as dirt pixels.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Category Example 1 Example 2 Spatial Number of dirt pixels in an Average distance of dirt pixels distribution edge region of the items to from the center of the items to be washed be washed Morphology Number of contiguous Number of pixels of the largest areas of dirt pixels contiguous area Color Average value of the green Standard deviation of the aver- value of al ldirt pixels age value of the green value Texture Average grayscale value of Density of dirt pixels, the all dirt pixels, after the grayscale value thereof being image has been transformed above the average grayscale into a grayscale image value

[0080] It should be mentioned that the categories and the specific examples of Table 1 are to be understood merely by way of example and not exhaustively.

[0081] For example, a determination rule which specifies how the respective dirt parameter a_11-a_nm is determined on the basis of the digital image of the items to be washed 30 may be predetermined for each dirt parameter a_11-a_nm. Different dirt parameters a_11-a_nm may be completely independent of one another, such as for example “average distance of dirt pixels from the center of the items to be washed” and “average value of the green value of all dirt pixels” or they may have mutual dependencies, such as for example “average value of the green value of all dirt pixels” and “standard deviation of the average value of the green value”.

[0082] For a specific dirt type, the different dirt parameters a_11-a_nm have, in particular, characteristic values, i.e. the values are in a specific range which for example may be empirically determined. For example, rice grains have a specific size, for example 1-10 mm, and shape, for example elliptical, wherein these values depend, for example, on an observation angle and the type of rice. Spaghetti has an elongated, contiguous curvilinear structure. For each dirt type, characteristic properties may be used in order to make up a plurality of dirt parameters a_11-a_nm for a dirt parameter matrix SMX, such that the characteristic properties may be differentiated, i.e. the dirt types may be identified using the values of the dirt parameters a_11-a_nm.

[0083] FIG. 3 shows specific examples of three dirt parameter matrices MXA, MXB, MXC, for three dirt types SA, SB, SC, (see FIG. 1), wherein for reasons of clarity the dirt parameter matrices MXA, MXB, MXC contain only four dirt parameters. An example of a determined current dirt parameter matrix MXi is also shown.

[0084] The dirt types SA, SB, SC are, for example, a dark sauce SA, mayonnaise SB and chocolate sauce SC. The sensor signal is a digital image of the dirty items to be washed 30 (see FIG. 1). The dirt parameters a_11-a_nm (see FIG. 2) represent, for example, a spatial distribution of dirt pixels on the items to be washed, an average brightness of the dirt pixels, a homogeneity of an area formed by the dirt pixels and a number of dirt pixels, the brightness thereof being below a threshold value standardized to the total number of dirt pixels.

[0085] The dirt parameter matrices MXA, MXB, MXC, for example, are characteristic of the respective dirt type SA, SB, SC. For each of the defined dirt parameters a_11-a_nm they contain a value range which has been determined, for example, by empirical measurements. The dirt parameter matrix MXA is determined by such a measurement, for example on the basis of a sensor signal of an item to be washed 30 which is soiled only with the dirt type SA. These measurements are preferably carried out by a manufacturer of the dishwasher 1 and the dirt parameter matrices MXA, MXB, MXC provided.

[0086] During the operation of the dishwasher 1 the sensor signal of the dirty items to be washed 30 is detected. In particular, a photograph of the items to be washed 30 is taken and transmitted to the receiving unit 16. On the basis of the sensor signal, the current dirt parameter matrix MXi is determined, by the value of each dirt parameter a_11-a_nm being determined on the basis of the sensor signal.

[0087] By comparing the current dirt parameter matrix MXi with the dirt parameter matrices MXA, MXB, MXC, in particular it may be determined which dirt type SA, SB, SC is present on the items to be washed 30. The comparison is carried out, in particular, by a comparison unit 24 (see FIG. 4). In this case, for example, a probability for each of the dirt types SA, SB, SC is determined.

[0088] The comparison of the current dirt parameter matrix MXi with the dirt parameter matrix MXA reveals, for example, that all values of the current dirt parameter matrix MXi are within the respective value range of the dirt parameter matrix MXA. Thus there is a very high probability that the dirt type SA is present on the items to be washed 30.

[0089] The comparison with the further dirt parameter matrices MXB, MXC shows deviations in at least one dirt parameter a_11-a nm. The probability that the dirt type SB is present on the items to be washed 30 is very low, since all parameter values are outside the respective value range of the dirt parameter matrix MXB. The probability that the dirt type SC is present on the items to be washed 30 is moderate, since two parameter values are outside the respective value range of the dirt parameter matrix MXC.

[0090] This comparison result may be interpreted differently. A first interpretation could be that only the dirt type SA is present on the items to be washed 30. A second interpretation could be that the dirt type SA is present with a small quantity of the dirt type SB on the items to be washed 30. The interpretation of the comparison result is executed, in particular, by a determining unit 20 (see FIG. 4).

[0091] FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a dishwasher 1. For example, it is the household dishwasher 1 of FIG. 1. The household dishwasher comprises a controller 15, a receiving unit 16, a camera 17, a user interface 18, a determining unit 20, which has an image processing unit 21, a generating unit 23 and a comparison unit 24 as constituent parts, a database unit 22, a learning unit 25, a statistics unit 26 and a communication unit 27.

[0092] The receiving unit 16 is configured to receive a sensor signal of dirty items to be washed 30 (see FIG. 1). The sensor signal may be provided in this case by the camera 17 in the form of an image or photograph of the items to be washed 30. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor signal may be received by an external unit 50, for example a mobile device of the user. Moreover, the sensor signal may be received by the communication unit 27 and provided on the receiving unit 16. The receiving unit 16 transmits the received sensor signal to the determining unit 20. The determining unit 20 is configured to determine a dirt type SA, SB, SC adhering to the items to be washed 30 (see FIG. 1).

[0093] In this example, the sensor signal comprises an image of the items to be washed 30. The received sensor signal is processed by means of the image processing unit 21. In particular, a value is determined for each dirt parameter a_11-a_nm. The generating unit 23 generates a current dirt parameter matrix MXi (see FIG. 3) from the determined values. The comparison unit 24 compares the current dirt parameter matrix MXi with stored dirt parameter matrices MXA, MXB, MXC (see FIG. 3) which retrieves them from the database unit 22. Preferably, the current dirt parameter matrix MXi is compared with each stored dirt parameter matrix MXA, MXB, MXC. As a comparison result, for example, a probability is determined that the dirt type SA, SB, SC represented by the respective stored dirt parameter matrix MXA, MXB, MXC is present on the items to be washed 30. Based on the comparison result, the determining unit 20 determines which of the dirt types SA, SB, SC is present on the items to be washed 30 and provides this to the controller 15. The controller 15 immediately executes a washing program which is adapted, in particular, specifically to the dirt types SA, SB, SC present.

[0094] By means of the user interface 18 the user of the household dishwasher 1 may be informed about identified dirt types SA, SB, SC and/or the user may be requested to confirm an identified dirt type SA, SB, SC. Such a confirmation on the part of the user may be advantageously used by the learning unit 25 to adapt the dirt parameter matrices SA, SB, SC stored in the database unit 22, so that the determination of the dirt types SA, SB, SC is improved in the future.

[0095] The statistics unit 26 is configured on the basis of the determined dirt types SA, SB, SC to determine a frequency distribution which contains a statistical probability of the occurrence of specific dirt types SA, SB, SC for future determinations. In this case, in particular, a correlation between different dirt types SA, SB, SC and a correlation between a time of the occurrence and a dirt type SA, SB, SC may be determined, which may improve the determination of the dirt types SA, SB, SC in the future.

[0096] The communication unit 27 is configured, in particular, to communicate with other household appliances of the user, such as a food processor, a cooking appliance and/or a refrigerator, or with applications such as a digital cookbook or calendar of the user. Additional information relative to a dirt type SA, SB, SC to be expected may be received and evaluated from these external devices in order to improve the determination of the dirt types SA, SB, SC.

[0097] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary arrangement with a dishwasher 1, for example the household dishwasher 1 of FIG. 1, and a computing unit 100. The dishwasher 1 and the computing unit 100 are configured to communicate with one another by means of a communication link DATA. The computing unit 100 is configured, for example, as a server and is able to be accessed via the internet. The dishwasher 1 thus comprises a network interface such as a WLAN module, so that it may produce a communication link with the server 100 via the internet access on the part of the user. In this arrangement the dishwasher 1 may have a relatively simple construction. In particular, it may be sufficient if the dishwasher has a controller 15 (see FIG. 1 or 4). The receiving unit 16 (see FIG. 4) and the determining unit 20 (see FIG. 4) are encompassed in this case, in particular, by the server 100. Further optional units such as an image processing unit 21 (see FIG. 4), a generating unit 23 (see FIG. 4), a comparison unit 24 (see FIG. 4), a database unit 22 (see FIG. 4), a learning unit 25 (see FIG. 4) and/or a statistics unit 26 (see FIG. 4) are preferably also encompassed by the server 100, but may also be encompassed by the dishwasher 1.

[0098] This arrangement has the advantage, in particular, that the high computing power of the server 100 is available for determining the dirt types SA, SB, SC (see FIG. 1), which shortens a determination time.

[0099] FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher 1, in particular the household dishwasher 1 of FIG. 1 or 4, but also the dishwasher 1 in the arrangement having the computing unit 100 of FIG. 5. The dishwasher 1 comprises a controller 15 (see FIG. 1 or 4) for executing a washing program for washing dirty items to be washed 30 (see FIG. 1). In a first step 51, a sensor signal which is indicative of a dirt type SA, SB, SC adhering to the dirty items to be washed 30 (see FIG. 1) from a plurality of dirt types SA, SB, SC is received. In a second step S2, the dirt type SA, SB, SC adhering to the dirty items to be washed 30 is determined as a function of the sensor signal. In a third step S3, the washing program is executed as a function of the determined dirt type SA, SB, SC.

[0100] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it may be modified in a variety of ways.

Reference Characters Used:

[0101] 1 Dishwasher [0102] 2 Washing container [0103] 3 Door [0104] 4 Washing chamber [0105] 5 Pivot axis [0106] 6 Loading opening [0107] 7 Bottom [0108] 8 Ceiling [0109] 9 Rear wall [0110] 10 Side wall [0111] 11 Side wall [0112] 12 Receptacle for items to be washed [0113] 13 Receptacle for items to be washed [0114] 14 Receptacle for items to be washed [0115] 15 Controller [0116] 16 Receiving unit [0117] 17 Camera [0118] 18 User interface [0119] 20 Determining unit [0120] 21 Image processing unit [0121] 22 Database unit [0122] 23 Generating unit [0123] 24 Comparison unit [0124] 25 Learning unit [0125] 26 Statistics unit [0126] 27 Communication unit [0127] 30 Items to be washed [0128] 50 External unit [0129] 100 Computing unit [0130] a_11 Dirt parameter [0131] a_12 Dirt parameter [0132] a_1m Dirt parameter [0133] a_21 Dirt parameter [0134] a_n1 Dirt parameter [0135] a_nm Dirt parameter [0136] A Pull-out direction [0137] DATA Communication link [0138] E Push-in direction [0139] MXA Matrix [0140] MXB Matrix [0141] MXC Matrix [0142] MXi Matrix [0143] S1 Method step [0144] S2 Method step [0145] S3 Method step [0146] SA Dirt type [0147] SB Dirt type [0148] SC Dirt type [0149] SMX Matrix