System for determining an operating state of a dishwasher and an according method

Abstract

A washing system for determining an operating state of a dishwasher comprises a dishwasher, in particular wherein the dishwasher comprises a dishwasher interface, a dispenser unit, in particular wherein the dispenser unit comprises a dispenser interface, wherein the dispenser unit is connected to the dishwasher for dosing a detergent to the dishwasher, a logic unit, in particular wherein the logic unit is connectable to the dishwasher interface and the dispenser interface, and a current sensor for measuring an electrical current consumed by the dishwasher, wherein the current sensor is connected to the logic unit. By replacing costly water meters by a current sensor, the cost efficiency of the washing system may be increased. In addition, the assembling and maintenance effort of the washing system may be reduced.

Claims

1. A method of determining an operating state of a dishwasher comprising: measuring, by a current sensor connected to each of a power supply line of the dishwasher and a processor, an electrical current consumed by the dishwasher; sending, by the current sensor and to the processor, a first signal representative of current information indicative of the electrical current measured by the current sensor and consumed by the dishwasher; receiving, at the processor, the first signal; comparing, at the processor, the electrical current consumed by the dishwasher to a current reference value, the current reference value being indicative of an average current value for the dishwasher when an average volume of water is consumed by the dishwasher during an operating step of the dishwasher; receiving, at the processor, a second signal representative of a second parameter of the dishwasher, the second parameter being different from the current information; determining, by the processor, an operating state of the dishwasher during the operating step based on both the comparison of the received current information to the current reference value and the received second signal according to a logic matrix stored in a memory module of the processor; and logging, by the processor, the operating state of the dishwasher for user analysis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined operating state comprises one state selected from a group consisting of: a high stand-by state, a normal operation state, a leaking tank state, a water volume too low state, and a temperature too high state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal comprises washing temperature information comprising a value of a washing temperature parameter indicative of a washing temperature of the dishwasher, the processor processes the received washing temperature information, and the processing comprises comparing the value of the washing temperature parameter with a washing temperature reference value; and the determining of the operating state of the dishwasher by the processor further comprises determining the operating state based on a result of the washing temperature comparison.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal comprises rinsing temperature information comprising a value of a rinsing temperature parameter indicative of a rinsing temperature of the dishwasher, the processor processes the received rinsing temperature information, and the processing comprises comparing the value of the rinsing temperature parameter with a rinsing temperature reference value; and the determining of the operating state of the dishwasher by the processor further comprises determining the operating state based on a result of the rinsing temperature comparison.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal comprises a washing dosing signal indicative of a washing fluid being supplied, and wherein receiving the second signal comprises receiving the washing dosing signal from a dishwasher interface, and the processor processes the received washing dosing signal; and the determining of the operating state of the dishwasher by the processor further comprises determining the operating state based on the received washing dosing signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal comprises a rinsing dosing signal indicative of a rinsing fluid being supplied, and wherein receiving the second signal comprises receiving the rinsing dosing signal from a dishwasher interface, and the processor processes the received rinsing dosing signal; and the determining of the operating state of the dishwasher by the processor further comprises determining the operating state based on the received rinsing dosing signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal comprises a machine signal indicative of the dishwasher being operational, and wherein receiving the second signal comprises receiving the machine signal from a dishwasher interface, a dispenser interface, or the processor, and the processor processes the received machine signal; and the determining of the operating state of the dishwasher by the processor further comprises determining the operating state based on the received machine signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second signal comprises a dispenser dosing signal indicative of a detergent being supplied to the dishwasher, and wherein receiving the second signal comprises receiving the dispenser dosing signal from a dispenser interface, and the processor processes the received dispenser dosing signal; and the determining of the operating state of the dishwasher by the processor further comprises determining the operating state based on the received dispenser dosing signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the processor is integrated in the dispenser interface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the current sensor comprises a current clamp.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor is integrated in a dispenser unit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory module comprises parameters and values stored by the processor during and/or after operation of the dishwasher based on prior washing cycles of the dishwasher.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating step of the dishwasher comprises a washing operation.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Additional details, features, characteristics and advantages of the object of the invention are disclosed in the figures and the following description of the respective figures, which—in exemplary fashion—show one embodiment and an example of a washing system according to the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a washing system according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a current sensor in Form of a current clamp;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a logic matrix with the signals and parameters required for determining the operating state of the washing system.

(5) The illustration in FIG. 1 shows a washing system 10 comprising a dishwasher 12 with a dishwasher interface 14, arranged inside the dishwasher 12. The dishwasher 12 comprises a washing tank 16 for supplying water to a washing zone 18 of the dishwasher 12. During a washing operation the washing zone 18 may be closed with a vertically moveable cover 20. The water inside the washing tank 16 may be heated to a desired temperature, for example according to DIN 10510, using electricity. The dishwasher is connected to electric mains by a power supply line 22. In order to measure the value of the current parameter (A), indicative of the amount of electricity consumed by the dishwasher 12, a current sensor 24 in form of a current clamp is attached to the power supply line 22 of the dishwasher 12. The current sensor 24 may be an inductive type of sensor. The current sensor 24 is connected to a dispenser unit 26 comprising a dispenser interface 28 as well as a logic unit 30, wherein the dispenser interface 28 is connected to the logic unit 30. The current sensor 24 is connected to the logic unit 30, for example through the dispenser unit 26, via a cable 32. The logic unit 30 is connected to the dishwasher interface 14 for example via a cable (not shown), wherein the logic unit 30 may receive signals and values of parameters from the dishwasher interface 14 as well as the dispenser interface 28 in order to determine the operating state of the washing system 10 based on the received signals and parameters. The dispenser unit 26 supplies a detergent to the dishwasher 12, in particular the washing tank 16 and/or the washing zone 18, via a pipe (not shown).

(6) In FIG. 2 the current sensor 24 in form of a current clamp is shown with the cable 32 attached. The current sensor 24 comprises a current clamp base 34 and a current clamp head 36, rotatable attached to the current clamp base 34 in order to be clamped around a power supply line 22 of the dishwasher 12 for example.

(7) In FIG. 3 a logic matrix is shown, comprising the signals and parameters based on which the logic unit 30 may determine the operating state of the washing system 10. The logic matrix comprises a column with the current parameter (A), indicative of the consumption of electricity of the washing system 10. The current parameter (A) may be too high, higher, lower or too low compared to a current reference value. Further columns for existing default signals, for example from the dishwasher interface, are the temperature related washing and rinsing temperature parameters (B, C) and the dosing signal based washing and rinsing dosing signals (D, E). The values of the washing and rinsing temperature parameters (B, C) may be too high, higher, lower or too low compared to a washing and/or rinsing temperature reference value. The washing and rinsing dosing signals (D, E) may be either on or off, indicative of a dosing of a fluid or not. In a further column the existing default signal, the machine signal (F) is arranged. The machine signal (F) indicates whether the washing system 10 is switched on or not. The dosing signal (G) from the dispenser unit 26, in particular the dispenser interface 28, is arranged in a further column. The conclusion, the operating state of the washing system 10 related to the listed parameters and signals, is also arranged in a column.

(8) The high stand-by state corresponds to the value of the current parameter (A) being higher or too high compared to a current reference value. The value of the current parameter (A) may be too high or too low compared to the current reference value, if the measured value of the current parameter (A) differs from the current reference value by a predefined amount. The value of the current parameter (A) may be an indicator for the consumption of electricity of the washing system. The values of the washing and rinsing temperature parameters (B, C) essentially may fit the measured or predefined washing and/or rinsing temperature reference value. The washing and rinsing dosing signal (D, E) as well as the dispenser dosing signal (G) may not be detected. The machine signal (F) may be detected.

(9) The normal operation state corresponds to the value of the current parameter (A), the washing and rinsing temperature parameters (B, C) essentially fitting the measured and/or predefined current reference, washing temperature and rinsing temperature reference values. The washing and rinsing dosing signal (D, E) as well as the machine signal (F) and the dispenser dosing signal (G) may be detected.

(10) The leaking tank state corresponds to the value of the current parameter (A) being higher or too high compared to a current reference value. The value of the washing temperature parameter (B) may be lower or too low compared to the predefined washing temperature reference value. The rinsing temperature parameters (C) may fit essentially the measured or predefined rinsing temperature reference value. The washing and rinsing dosing signal (D, E) may not be detected. The machine signal (F) and the dispenser dosing signal (G) may be detected, thus indicating a leaking washing tank.

(11) The water volume too low state corresponds to the value of the current parameter (A) being lower or too low compared to a current reference value. The washing and rinsing temperature parameters (B, C) may be essentially fitting the measured and/or predefined washing temperature and rinsing temperature reference values. The washing and rinsing dosing signal (D, E) as well as the machine signal (F) may be detected. The dispenser dosing signal (G) may not be detected. The low or too low value of the current parameter may be indicative of a smaller water volume being heated up to a predefined washing temperature for example.

(12) The temperature too high state may correspond to the value of the current parameter (A), the values of the washing and rinsing temperature parameters (B, C) being higher or too high compared to the current reference value and the washing and/or rinsing temperature reference value. The washing and rinsing dosing signal (D, E) as well as the machine signal (F) and the dispenser dosing signal (G) may be detected.

(13) The particular combinations of elements and features in the above detailed embodiments are exemplary only; the interchanging and substitution of these teachings with other teachings in this and the patents/applications incorporate by reference are also expressly contemplated. As those skilled in the art will recognize, variations, modifications, and other implementations of what is described herein can occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by the way of example only and is not intending as limiting. In the claims, the wording “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the identified article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The inventions scope is defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto. Furthermore, reference signs used in the description and claims do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(14) 10 washing system 12 dishwasher 14 dishwasher interface 16 washing tank 18 washing zone 20 cover 22 power supply line 24 current sensor 26 dispenser unit 28 dispenser interface 30 logic unit 32 cable 34 current clamp base 36 current clamp head A current parameter B washing temperature parameter C rinsing temperature parameter D washing dosing signal E rinsing dosing signal F machine signal