System with a dishwasher and method for operating a dishwasher

Abstract

A system includes a dishwasher including a dishwasher cavity, a spray facility for applying washing liquor and/or fresh water to dishes accommodated in the dishwasher cavity, a drive facility for actively driving the spray facility, and a control apparatus for activating the drive facility depending on a control signal. An input unit detects a user input for moving the spray facility, and a generation unit generates the control signal depending on the user input detected.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A system, comprising: a dishwasher including a dishwasher cavity, a spray facility for applying washing liquor and/or fresh water to dishes accommodated in the dishwasher cavity, a drive facility for actively driving the spray facility, and a control apparatus for activating the drive facility depending on a control signal; an input unit configured to detect a user input for moving the spray facility; and a generation unit configured to generate the control signal depending on the user input detected.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the dishwasher is a household dishwasher.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the spray facility is embodied as a spray arm.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the dishwasher includes a pump having a sump, said spray arm including an outrigger supported rotatably on the sump of the pump and actively driven by the drive facility, said spray facility including a spray arm satellite supported rotatably on the outrigger.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the input unit is configured to detect the user input, from which the control signal for the drive facility is generated to move the spray facility to a specific position or into a specific zone.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the specific zone is an intensive washing zone.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the input unit is configured to detect the user input, from which the control signal for the drive facility is generated to program a specific pattern of movement for the spray facility or to program an intensive washing zone.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the control apparatus is configured to carry out a washing program from a plurality of washing programs for washing the dishes in the dishwasher cavity, and to adapt at least one of the washing programs depending on the user input detected.

24. The system of claim 16, further comprising a visualization unit configured to visualize for the user a washing compartment arranged within the dishwasher cavity.

25. The system of claim 16, further comprising an optical sensor for detecting an optical sensor signal of the washing compartment.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising a visualization unit configured to visualize for the user a washing compartment arranged within the dishwasher cavity in response to the detected optical sensor signal.

27. The system of claim 16, further comprising a facility external to the dishwasher, said input unit being integrated the facility.

28. The system of claim 16, further comprising a facility external to the dishwasher, said input unit and said generation unit being integrated the facility.

29. The system of claim 26, further comprising a facility external to the dishwasher, said facility having integrated therein the input unit, the generation unit, the optical sensor and the visualization unit.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the input unit and the visualization unit are embodied as part of an app installed on the external facility.

31. The system of claim 16, wherein the dishwasher integrates the input unit and the generation unit.

32. A method for operating a dishwasher having a dishwasher cavity, said method comprising: detecting via an input unit a user input for movement of a spray facility for applying washing liquor and/or fresh water to dishes accommodated in the dishwasher cavity; and generating a control signal depending on the user input detected for activating a drive facility to actively drive the spray facility.

33. A controlled spray arm for a dishwasher including a dishwasher cavity, comprising: a spray arm for applying washing liquor and/or fresh water to dishes accommodated in the dishwasher cavity; a drive facility for actively driving the spray arm; a control apparatus for activating the drive facility depending on a control signal; an input unit configured to detect a user input for moving the spray arm; and a generation unit configured to generate the control signal depending on the user input detected.

34. The controlled spray arm of claim 33, wherein the dishwasher includes a pump having a sump, said spray arm including an outrigger supported rotatably on the sump of the pump and actively driven by the drive facility, said spray arm including a spray arm satellite supported rotatably on the outrigger.

35. The controlled spray arm of claim 33, wherein the input unit is configured to detect the user input, from which the control signal for the drive facility is generated to move the spray arm to a specific position or into a specific zone.

36. The controlled spray arm of claim 35, wherein the specific zone is an intensive washing zone.

37. The controlled spray arm of claim 33, wherein the input unit is configured to detect the user input, from which the control signal for the drive facility is generated to program a specific pattern of movement for the spray arm or to program an intensive washing zone.

38. The controlled spray arm of claim 33, wherein the control apparatus is configured to carry out a washing program from a plurality of washing programs for washing the dishes in the dishwasher cavity, and to adapt at least one of the washing programs depending on the user input detected.

39. The controlled spray arm of claim 33, further comprising a visualization unit configured to visualize for the user a washing compartment arranged within the dishwasher cavity.

40. The controlled spray arm of claim 33, further comprising an optical sensor for detecting an optical sensor signal of the washing compartment.

41. The controlled spray arm of claim 40, further comprising a visualization unit configured to visualize for the user a washing compartment arranged within the dishwasher cavity in response to the detected optical sensor signal.

42. The controlled spray arm of claim 33, further comprising a facility external to the dishwasher, said input unit being integrated the facility.

43. The controlled spray arm of claim 33, further comprising a facility external to the dishwasher, said input unit and said generation unit being integrated the facility.

44. The controlled spray arm of claim 41, further comprising a facility external to the dishwasher, said facility having integrated therein the input unit, the generation unit, the optical sensor and the visualization unit.

45. The controlled spray arm of claim 44, wherein the input unit and the visualization unit are embodied as part of an app installed on the external facility.

46. The controlled spray arm of claim 33, wherein the dishwasher integrates the input unit and the generation unit.

Description

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0058] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims as well as of the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. The invention will be explained in greater detail below with the aid of preferred forms of embodiment, which refer to the enclosed figures.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system with a household dishwasher;

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a schematized side view of the exemplary embodiment of the household dishwasher according to FIG. 1;

[0061] FIG. 3 shows a schematic overhead view of the receptacle for dishes of the household dishwasher according to FIG. 2; and

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a further exemplary embodiment of a system with a household dishwasher and an external facility; and

[0063] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0064] Elements that are the same or have the same functions are provided with the same reference characters in the figures, unless stated otherwise.

[0065] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system with a household dishwasher 1. Further, in FIG. 2, a schematized side view of the exemplary embodiment of the household dishwasher 1 according to FIG. 1 is shown.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 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 water-tight manner. For this purpose a sealing facility (not shown) can be provided between the door 3 and the dishwasher cavity 2. The dishwasher cavity 2 is preferably cuboid in shape. The dishwasher cavity 2 can be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The dishwasher cavity 2 and the door 3 can form a washing compartment 4 for washing dishes.

[0067] The door 3 is shown in an open position in FIG. 1. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting it 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 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 can for example be made from a sheet of stainless steel. As an alternative for example the bottom 7 can be made of a plastic material.

[0068] The household dishwasher 1 further has at least one receptacle for dishes 12, 13, 14. Preferably a number of, for example three, receptacles for dishes 12, 13, 14 are provided, wherein the receptacle for dishes 12 can be a lower receptacle for dishes or a lower basket, the receptacle for dishes 13 can be an upper receptacle for dishes or an upper basket and the receptacle for dishes 14 can be a cutlery drawer. As FIG. 1 furthermore shows, the receptacles for dishes 12, 13, 14 are arranged above one another in the dishwasher cavity 2. Each receptacle for dishes 12, 13,14 is optionally able to be moved inwards or outwards in the dishwasher cavity 2. In particular each receptacle for dishes 12, 13, 14 is able to be pushed into the dishwasher cavity 2 in an insertion direction E and pulled out of the dishwasher cavity 2 against the direction of insertion E in a withdrawal direction A.

[0069] An optical sensor 110 embodied as a camera is arranged on the ceiling 8 in such a way that said sensor is configured to detect an optical sensor signal of the dishwasher cavity 2 and in particular of the washing compartment 4. The dashed lines below the camera 110 indicate a detection area of the camera 110.

[0070] The household dishwasher 1 also has a control apparatus 100, which is arranged on the door 3. The control apparatus 100 is configured to carry out a washing program from the number of washing programs for washing dishes 16 arranged in the washing compartment 4 (see FIG. 2).

[0071] To this end FIG. 2, for reasons of clarity, only shows one receptacle for dishes 12 in the washing compartment 4, on which dishes 16, for example plates, are arranged. At this point it should be stressed that the washing compartment 4 can for example have one receptacle for dishes, two receptacles for dishes or also three receptacles for dishes.

[0072] With regard to FIGS. 1 and 2 the household dishwasher 1 has at least one controlled spray arm or spray facility 15, in the example of FIG. 2 a spray arm, for spraying the dishes 16 with washing liquor, and a drive facility 17 for driving the at least one controlled spray arm 15. The drive facility 17 can for example comprise an electric motor with a position detector.

[0073] The household dishwasher 1 of FIG. 1 further comprises an input unit 120 and also a generation unit 130, which are arranged on the door 3 for example.

[0074] The input unit 120 is configured to detect a user input of a user, such as a customer, for moving the controlled spray arm 15. In other words control information for controlling the movement of the controlled spray arm 15 is able to be derived directly or indirectly from the user input of the user. With the user input or a sequence of user inputs, the user can control the movement of the driven controlled spray arm 15 by means of the input unit. In this case the generation unit 130 is configured, depending on the user input detected, to generate the control signal, by means of which the control apparatus 100 activates the drive facility 17 for the controlled spray arm 15.

[0075] In the example of FIG. 2 the controlled spray arm 15 is embodied as a spray arm arranged below the receptacle for dishes 12. For example the spray arm 15 has an outrigger supported rotatably on a sump (not shown) of a pump of the household dishwasher 1, which is actively driven by the drive facility 17, and a spray arm satellite supported rotatably on the outrigger (not shown).

[0076] For example the input unit 120 is also configured to detect a user input of the user, from which a control signal for the drive facility 17 is able to be generated, by means of which the controlled spray arm 15 is moved to a specific position or to a specific zone, in particular an intensive washing zone II. To this end FIG. 3 shows in a schematic diagram an overhead view of the receptacle for dishes 12 of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates in this case that the receptacle for dishes 12 is for example divided into four quadrants I, II, III and IV. For example the user can determine, via the input unit 120 and their user input, that the quadrant II is to form an intensive washing zone. Depending on such a user input, the control signal is then generated by the generation unit 130 in such a way that the drive facility 17 activates the spray arm 15 in such a way that the intensive washing zone determined, in the present example the quadrant II in the receptacle for dishes 12 of FIG. 3, is embodied by means of the activated spray arm 15.

[0077] As an alternative or in addition the input unit 120 can be configured to detect a user input, from which a control signal for the drive facility 17 is able to be generated, by means of which a specific pattern of movements is able to be programmed for the spray arm 15 or at least one intensive washing zone, such as quadrant II in FIG. 3, is able to be programmed.

[0078] Furthermore the control apparatus 100 can be configured, depending on the user input detected by the input unit 120, to adapt at least one of the washing programs.

[0079] Furthermore a visualization unit 140 is preferably provided. The visualization unit 140 is configured to visualize the washing compartment 4 for the user. For this visualization the visualization unit 140 can use the optical sensor signal detected by the optical sensor 110. As an alternative or in addition the visualization unit 140 can employ an augmented reality display and/or a virtual reality display. The sensor signal provided by the optical sensor 110 in particular comprises a real time image of inside the washing compartment 4.

[0080] Shown in FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a further exemplary embodiment of a system with a dishwasher 1 and an external facility 200. The dishwasher 1 and the external facility 200 are able to be coupled via at least one network 300, for example the Internet. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 differs from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 to the extent that the optical sensor 110, the input unit 120, the generation unit 130 and the visualization unit 140 are integrated in the external facility 200.

[0081] The external facility 200 is a mobile device for example, such as a smartphone or a tablet. The optical sensor 110 is the camera of the smartphone or tablet for example.

[0082] The input unit 120, the generation unit 130 and the visualization unit 140 are integrated at least partly into an app for example, which is installed on the external facility 200 and is operated on said facility.

[0083] FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a method for operating a dishwasher 1, having a dishwasher cavity 2, a controlled spray arm 15 for applying washing liquor and/or fresh water to dishes 16 accommodated in the dishwasher cavity 2, a drive facility 17 for actively driving the controlled spray arm 15 and a control apparatus 100 for activating the drive facility 17 depending on a control signal. Examples of such a dishwasher 1 are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The method of FIG. 3 comprises the steps S1 and S2:

[0084] In step S1 a user's input for movement of controlled spray arm 15 is detected by means of an input unit 120.

[0085] In step S2 a control signal is generated depending on the user input detected, by means of which the drive facility 17 is able to be activated by the control apparatus 100 in such a way that the controlled spray arm 15 is moved according to the user input.

[0086] Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is able to be modified in a wide variety of ways.